by PN Schiavone

Created on: March 02, 2009   Last Updated: April 06, 2009

Catching mice can sometimes be hard to do. These little commensal rodents can be the most versatile and adaptive creatures in the rodent family. When it comes to catching a mouse the type of trap that you use is not as important as the way you set up and monitor your trapping mechanisms. You can use the old fashioned snap trap, glue boards, or mechanical traps. Mechanical traps do not kill the mouse. Residential mechanical traps are marketed as humane mouse traps. These usually have a door that allows the mouse to come in for food and a tripping mechanism to shut the door and locks the mouse inside the trap. Snap traps are still the most effective weapon in your arsenal, especially if you use the kind with extended triggers. Humane traps are good, but allow much more chance of a mouse escape. Remember, a humane trap is only humane if you check it everyday and release the mouse in an area that allows it a chance for survival. But before you set it free, you need know how to catch a mouse.

Most people do not see a mouse in their house. Mouse droppings are usually noted. Mouse droppings look like little black pieces of rice and have tapered ends. Male mice will also mark their territory at night with up to 3000 tiny blasts of urine. Don't you just love the smell of mouse urinary protein in the morning? Mouse urinary protein and other antigens found in mouse droppings can be serious contributors to allergies and even may be linked to breast cancer. It is imperative that you do not live with mice in your dwelling for this reason. Leading entomologist Austin Frishman said, "it is not how many mice you take of your house, the real question is how many are you leaving in your house." Trying to catch mice with vacuum cleaners and towels just does not make sense when you realize the ability they have to make you and your family sick.

Mice will try to set up camp within 10 feet of available food and water. The best places for mouse harborage are kitchen pantries, under sinks, attics above kitchens. Look 10 feet in all directions. If you can find more droppings or gnaw marks, you have found a good location for setting up your traps. Mice leave pheromones in their droppings, this is what makes a site with droppings good for trap placement.

The next most important thing is to get your traps ready for placement. It is important that you do not rush into trying to catch the mouse the first night. One of the best things you can do is to pre-bait your traps. Put some bait on all

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