Comparing 4 Common Types Of Mouse Traps
There are several different mouse traps on the market, and many people feel overwhelmed when they try to weigh the pros and cons of each type. Here is a comparison of four popular types of mouse traps so you can choose the one that is best suited to your needs.
Snap Traps
Snap traps are the oldest mouse trap design, with the first spring-loaded bar trap being patented in 1899. Despite their age, these traps are still a viable choice in many cases. Snap traps are reusable, easy to set and release, and very affordable. Since they kill mice almost instantly in most cases, they are also considered to be very humane traps.
Snap traps have been around so long because of their reliability, but they can be rendered ineffective if they are used improperly. For most effective use, spread a tiny smear of peanut butter on the trigger and place the trap against a wall with the trigger facing the wall. Another downside of snap traps is that mice can sometimes eat the bait without depressing the trigger no matter how little bait you put on the trigger.
Glue Traps
With no moving parts, glue traps are perhaps the simplest mouse traps available. These traps consist of a piece of plastic or cardboard with one side coated in a non-toxic adhesive. Glue traps are disposable, so you can simply throw away both the trap and the mouse once the mouse dies.
While glue trap disposal is convenient, these traps are controversial because many people consider them to be cruel. It can take days for a mouse to die from hunger and thirst on a glue trap, and mice will often suffer with a painful injury during this time that they received while trying to escape.
Electric Traps
Electric traps are a modern solution that improves on older designs in a number of ways. Electric traps are the most humane traps you can buy aside from live traps, as the voltage that they deliver is enough to kill a mouse instantly. The bait and electrodes are located inside of the trap casing, with an opening that is large enough for a mouse to enter but small enough to keep pets and children's hands out.
For most people, the biggest downside of electric traps is that they are more expensive up-front than other types of traps. They also require more consistent monitoring than other types, as they will be made useless if you forget to change the batteries regularly. Fortunately, most electric traps have indicator lights to remind you to change the batteries.
Live Traps
Live traps are the best option for people who don't necessarily want to harm the mice in their home, but instead just want to get them out. Also known as catch-and-release traps, live traps usually consist of a cage or box with a trigger-activated door. When the mouse takes the bait, the trigger is activated and the door slams shut.
Live traps require more homeowner interaction than any other type of mouse trap. To use a live trap as intended, you must check the trap daily so that you can release the mouse before it dies of hunger or thirst. Additionally, you will have to drive the trap a significant distance away when you are ready to release the mouse to make sure that it doesn't find its way back to your home.
Carefully consider how much you want to pay, how frequently you want to monitor the trap, and how much you care about humane killing or releasing when you choose a mouse trap so you can find the right type for your home. For more information, contact a pest control company like Garrie Pest Control.