What's your method to get rid of mice in your home?

Question

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

We just bought a pair of OWLTRA OW-2 INDOOR electric mouse traps.

Tonight is our first night and we haven't had a confirmed kill yet.

However, my friend recommended them; in the couple of weeks he's had a pair of them between his kitchen and basement, he's gotten 8 mice.

Shawn Woods of Mousetrap Monday, also recommends them.

About Shawn Woods and Mousetrap Monday...

Shawn is a farmer with a young family, but he supplements his income by making mousetrap video reviews. They are excellent and you can learn a lot.

His website:
https://mousetrapmonday.com/

His YouTube channel which has new videos every Monday and Friday:
www.youtube.com/c/ShawnWoodsprimitive-archer

Wirecutter in the NY Times did some mousetrap reviews in AUG 2022 and mentioned him.
"To write this piece, I consulted Shawn Woods, a mousetrap enthusiast whose weekly video series, Mousetrap Monday, shows him testing all kinds of mousetraps. He covers how to set them up and their successes and failures, as documented by an infrared motion camera in his Oregon barn. Woods has over a million subscribers, and like Wirecutter, makes money from traps purchased through affiliate links on his videos, but he’s not shy about explaining exactly why he likes and dislikes certain traps. He rarely gets freebies from trap companies, and he told me that he spent about $10,000 on traps in 2017."
www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-mousetrap/

Here are Shawn's video reviews for the OWLTRAs.

OWLTRA OW-1 Indoor Electric Rat Trap 2PCS, Instant Kill Rodent Zapper
with Pet Safe Trigger, Black
Mousetrap Monday / Shawn Woods video review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMWdiQyco1o

OWLTRA OW-2 Indoor Electric Mouse Trap, Instant Kill Rodent Zapper
with Pet Safe Trigger, Black, Small
Mousetrap Monday / Shawn Woods video review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok5KtDVPwQQ

So, based on the very happy review my learned friend gave and Shawn Wood's enthusiastic reviews, my wife and I decided to try the OW-2 out. (We don't have a rat problem... yet.)

=================
For the Amazon links, if you want to order one, please do so via Mousetrap Monday's Amazon affiliate link. This way, Shawn Woods will get a kickback.

OWLTRA OW-1 Indoor Electric Rat Trap 2PCS, Instant Kill Rodent Zapper
with Pet Safe Trigger, Black
www.amazon.com/.../ref=as_li_tl

OWLTRA OW-2 Indoor Electric Mouse Trap, Instant Kill Rodent Zapper
with Pet Safe Trigger, Black, Small
www.amazon.com/.../ref=as_li_tl

OpenClose · Accepted Answer

I had a bunch of mouse problems after some demolition. So I decided to try a bunch of mouse traps out. Starting from humane traps to snap traps.

I refuse to do glue traps for anything beyond insects and perhaps spiders. Very effective but it's also like trying to get kids to obey by scalping them and burying them alive with the corpses of their dead siblings.

But basically, there seems to be a direct correlation between the lethality if the trap and it's effectiveness.

I laid out a bunch of types of traps and the mice did an excellent job of avoiding the live traps, avoiding the poison bait traps, jumping more to the drowning traps, and then they just absolutely could not get enough of the snap traps. The roller traps caught exactly zero mice after several months. Snap traps? Like 5 in one evening. They'll do everything they can to avoid safe options because they absolutely crave the damned guillotine.

Made me rethink the glue traps because they seem to be intentionally masochistic little bastards. Might as well give them what they want and let natural selection do its thing.

So I put out some electrocution traps. Haven't caught anything yet, but I only saw one mouse, and it was out in the garage basically drunk inside a bag of grass seed. Guy was livin it up.

I'd still prefer to catch them alive because they're adorable and you don't see them very often. But they insist on not being taken alive.

misfittoy · Accepted Answer

a long time ago had two mice, they were tiny field mice, when i first moved in, i live rural now, i got a huge dustpan with the long handle swept the two in and put them back outside, haven't had an issue since.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

Wrigley's Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum chopped in small pieces kills mice, rats and even moles. Small rodents like this bubble gum but they can't digest it if they ate too many pieces.

Lliam · Answer

My wife and I live in a rural area. Mice and voles were wrecking our garden until we adopted a couple of cats. Soon, the majority of vermin hit the road like refugees from a war zone. No more problems.

An occasional mouse has gotten into our house over the years. Our indoor cat detects them right away and is single minded until she has eliminated them. Nature takes its course.

We will NOT use poison.
I haven't had success with snap traps.
I caught a mouse on a glue trap once, but I felt bad. It was very much alive and frightened. There's no way to free a mouse from one of those. So I took it out and drowned it. I felt like a horrible person.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

I use a home made trap. I use a deep waste basket and put some peanut butter stuck to the inside about 3 inches from the top. I put the basket in a place where the mice can get to the top (like next to stairs or something else they can climb). They try to reach down to get the peanut butter and fall into the basket. Then they can't get out. Mice can jump fairly high for their size, so the basket needs to be at least 20-24 inches deep.

This is a live trap. If you trap them live, you need to take them FAR because they will find their way back if you don't. By far I mean at least a quarter to half mile.

I've caught as many as three mice in one night this way. There are videos on how to make these so you can look it up.

mstbooblover · Answer

Since millennia, cats have been rat and mice hunters. In our modern societies, where poison is used against rats and mice, cats having caught and eaten a sick prey will also be sick, leading the cats to avoid their usual natural preys, and in all logic hunt more birds instead when possible. Poison is also not very ecological to say the least, and a danger for everyone... Plain traps on the other hand can sometimes prove useful.

Anonymous · Answer

1st step: don't get them!

2nd step: respond quickly if you do get them! If you're going to get mice. You're most likely to get them when it starts getting cold out. But if you don't catch adult mice quickly you're liable to have baby mice in no time. Then you have real problem.

3. Step 3: use a snap trap. I recommend baiting it with peanut butter. And here's a trick. Take a piece of thread after you bait the trap and wind it around the peanut butter. This way the mouse has to work a little harder to work the bait off thereby increasing the odds the trap will be sprung. Also, the best places to put the traps are along walls, behind the fridge, under the sink, under the oven, etc (anywhere miniscule amounts of food are likely to collect). Mice tend to run along walls rather than expose themselves to predators out in the open.

Good luck!

Also it wouldn't hurt to have a cat.

MrOracle · Answer

While I live on the edge of town, only a block or two from open fields were cows graze and lots of creatures live - including rats, mice, gophers, and squirrels - and probably many other similar things - the cats ensure that such rodents getting near, much less inside, the house is a rare and short-lived event.

NathanDavis · Answer

I do have three felines so the little buggers do not venture into my yards or house... but my cats still go out some nights to hunt down some of them at the unattended yards of some neighbors around, lol

Massageman · Answer

I use a combination of baits, live traps, "standard" snap trap, and my homemade cardboard box traps with a glue trap inside. So far, my DIY ones catch more than all the other kinds combined. One which I will be trying is the use of corn meal baits. The corn meal acts as a desiccant: it dries out the mice because- for some reason- it curbs their desire to drink water!!!

nrm736 · Answer

For first check around the house what is attracting the mice to your place (probably food) and move it or get rid of it. If it's not on your way you can surround it with traps - just not in a minefield-like Tom&Jerry fashion.

Glue traps worked pretty well. Also I hired my friend's cat to help me out a little.

Daniela1982 · Answer

I give my cat the job. Wait for it!

Imsmurter1 · Answer

I used snap traps before and it worked at first but eventually the rats stopped going to them. Then I used live traps but rats never went to them.

Thankfully I just moved out instead. It sucks living with rats hard to eat at home when you see one.

Chris_Morgan · Answer

I catch and release, just make sure you remember to check the trap regularly, and never leave it closed when not in use.

20yearsolder · Answer

I have bait boxes on the outside of my house, ever since I put them out I have not seen a mouse. Typically the only time I saw them was when it would turn cold at the beginning of winter. Not anymore, they don't come in the house at all

MuddyMole · Answer

We only get them in the attic, so I made a "rolling log" type trap. It's ideal as I can leave it up there for weeks/months and it just keeps working, without ever needing to be reset.

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

I use both the sticky pad and the cat's solution. I have two cats and they work fine in the house. But many times, I simply use the sticky glue pad available int eh market.

Guy13 · Answer

Traps with black cat on front. They are adhesive and once they get on it there is not getting out of it. Black adhesive 1/2 inch high and 3-4 in long.

JPresidente · Answer

Glue traps or snap traps work best. It’s always best to locate the area where they are coming in too which would help stop you from getting more of them. They have been known to tunnel and go up and down some walls.

Kori1236 · Answer

I have dogs, specifically terriers, best ratter is the breed literally bred for it lol. I also set snap traps for the odd mouse that escapes my dogs.

Phoenix98 · Answer

We’ve only ever had one mouse in all of our houses and we caught it and made him a pet we named speedy. But we’ve always had cats in the house and they usually take care of pets.

dustybiker · Answer

Live traps. Release them a dozen miles up the road in nature. The owls and other wildlife usually keep the numbers down.

USLegionary · Answer

Stop leaving food around and a hungry cat. Your cat won't hunt mice if it's getting 3 square meals a day.

findacure4wokeness · Answer

Glue traps, Mouse trap and baits all at the same time, but 12 month ago I keep getting them because we had a mouse plaque in Australia so I got a exterminator.

TonightYouu · Answer

Turn your home into a hockey ring and whack em on the head with a broom ( instant death ) that’s how me and my brothers would get rid of them

if all else fails get a cat feed it and it will bring you that mices head on a platter

andreasderjuengere · Answer

We keep the stray cats around in a good mood. I haven't seen any mouse in years now. Nor rats.

Sparkie460 · Answer

I have 5 cats in my house right now. I haven't seen a mouse in my house. .

TroyDT · Answer

Never seen evidence of one here. I also have two German Shepherds and their pet Tabby. Yes, that's right. They adopted my friend's cat. It sleeps with them.

Pudsmucker · Answer

Never had a problem with cats they keep them nice and rats away.

harrison102 · Answer

You should use snap traps or catch and release, if you going to release them you should take them 100 yards or so from the house. Don’t use poison ☠️

DancingQueen16 · Answer

Last year when me and my mom saw a mouse glue traps worked to get them out

exitseven · Answer

I use the glue traps now that both my cats have passed on.

msc545 · Answer

My cats invite them to play poker, and when the mice lose, they have to leave - and they always lose. Cats are smart.

douride2 · Answer

I have never had mice in my house. Out at my dad's cabin we used snap traps or poison.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Don't get rid of them! Adopt them! Build a big cage.

BLP11520 · Answer

Find their highway in your home and put them down. be careful if you own pets. Sinks cupboards also

ChefPapiChulo · Answer

i dont think i've ever had mice in my house.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Get a cat or have your house poisoned with one of those big tarps they put on the house.

purplepoppy · Answer

Snakes might be an option

AsaKyo · Answer

That's what cats are for

AviatorTom · Answer

Snap traps, baited with peanut butter.

AddylynnNightingale · Answer

Cats 'n Snaps.

Agape93 · Answer

Snap traps or lure in fischers

DJB72 · Answer

A couple of pythons would work...

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Let the cats do their thang

Havthrills · Answer

Sonic emitters that plug into an outlet.

Wise4myage · Answer

A and D. But only use A if you have pets.

JosyJosy · Answer

Release the Cat.

W0nderb0y · Answer

Get a belt with a heavy buckle

J3LueMooN · Answer

I use to get Gun :D

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Cats!

QuietRunner · Answer

snap traps and cats

Dnice1 · Answer

Get a cat

monkeynutts · Answer

Tiger snakes.

Zolly99999 · Answer

Live traps..

Smegskull · Answer

Radiation poisoning.

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How can I get rid of mice in my home?

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