WHAT IS THE BEST MOUSE TRAP TO USE?

If you have a mouse problem, immediate action will help prevent a mouse infestation. Get in touch with Premier Pest control on 0151 426 1604 today.

Have you noticed small black pellets around your home? Perhaps your houseplants or electrical wires are being slowly nibbled away: these are just some of the calling cards household mice leave behind. Don’t panic! The presence of rodents doesn’t always signal an infestation. Installing mouse traps can help you take control and ensure the issue doesn’t become unmanageable. 

Finding the best mouse trap to use can be a matter of personal preference. Each device has its advantages, with some trapping rodents for release and others killing the animal humanely. To help you make an informed decision, Premier Pest Control will take you through the various mouse traps humans have used for centuries. 

What are the different types of mouse traps?

• Jaw Mouse Trap

Jaw mouse traps have been used in homes as early as 1878. While once made from cast iron, current models consist of a plastic set of jaws operated on a coiled spring. Bait is placed within the mouth of the jaws, which snap shut when the trigger mechanism is activated.

Jaw mouse traps are easy to use and safe for humans to operate. Those setting the device will be at little risk of injury, and they are inexpensive to purchase. However, with their lightweight frame, they are not the most powerful trap on the market. 

 

• Spring-Loaded Bar Mouse Trap

When people picture a mouse trap, they most likely think of the spring-loaded bar device. Manufactured in 1894, this is the second oldest model on our list and is still widely used today. 

This trap is designed to crush a rodent’s neck, spinal cord or skull with a spring-loaded bar that swings down rapidly. However, a quick kill is not always guaranteed. 

If the rodent senses danger and scurries away, the trap could injure a non-vital part of the body and lead to a prolonged death. Minimising suffering is the most humane way to exterminate pests: quicker, safer and more accurate mouse traps are available.

 

• Live-Capture Mouse Trap

Live-capture mouse traps are made from wood or plastic and shaped into a long, narrow tube. When the mouse enters the tube for bait, a trigger mechanism will close the door behind them: this is the best mouse trap if your intention is not to harm or kill pests. Ventilation holes ensure they will not suffocate, and you can later release them back into the wild.

However, you must check these traps regularly to ensure the rodents are released alive: they can die from stress or starvation if contained for long periods. The catch-and-release method will also be ineffective if you free the mice close to your home, as there is always the chance they will return. 

 

• Electric Mouse Trap

Electric mouse traps deliver a fatal shock of electricity at the activation of a trigger mechanism. While more expensive, electric mouse traps use their high-voltage electricity to kill pests instantly. 

If you don’t want to use the live-capture method but still want to minimise suffering, this is the best mouse trap for your home. However, if you’re looking to put traps around the perimeter of your home and outside, electric models will be unsuitable. They will malfunction if in contact with moisture or rainwater, meaning you’ll need to choose a manual trap. 

 

• Glue Mouse Traps 

Glue mouse traps consist of a synthetic or natural adhesive coated on cardboard, plastic or wood. When the rodent attempts to take bait placed in the middle of the trap, it will be unable to move.

Several animal rights organisations, including PETA, condemn glue traps as inhumane. If not killed by a human, the rodent will be left to die of starvation, dehydration or suffocation. These traps also pose a risk to other wildlife, such as birds, hedgehogs and frogs. Campaigning from wildlife activists has led the UK government to create the Glue Traps Offence Act, which will prevent the sale of glue traps from April 2024. 

 

What is the best mouse trap bait? 

If you have installed mouse traps in your home with little success, you could be using the wrong bait. Mice primarily feed on grains, seeds, fungi and other insects in the wild. However, sticky, sweet foods are the best mouse trap bait for indoor devices. 

Mice have an incredible sense of smell and are attracted to sweet scents like chocolate, peanut butter spread and marshmallows. Their desire to consume high-calorie, fatty foods will lure them out of hiding and into your traps. You can also use wet pet food for dogs and cats, fruit jam and soft cheeses like blue cheese or camembert.