by Francis Jock

Created on: December 01, 2010   Last Updated: April 27, 2012

Mice are dirty rodents that threaten the health of everyone in your home. If you see signs of their droppings or notice offensive odors coming from drawers or cabinets, you probably have a next of house mice somewhere. They're active in the late evening when you can hear them moving around, looking for food or a mate. Most people want to get rid of mice  as quickly as possible, so they are usually trapped or poisoned.

There are different kinds of inexpensive mouse traps available for the job. These range from glue traps, humane (catch and release) traps, and the highly effective snap trap, all effective means for eradicating these household pests. Catch and release traps were created for humane purposes, although mice will quickly repopulate a home unless appropriate safeguards are taken. Regardless of the kind of mouse trap, their proper use requires strategic placement, adjacent to or along mice run-ways . Glue traps simply glue the mouse in place, making them easy to dispose of; mouse, trap and mess.

Snap-traps are the proven champions of mice catching, although they do require handling. The best bait for catching a mouse with a snap trap is peanut-butter. Mice find peanut butter an irresistible meal and will happily eat as much as they can unless they are disturbed. Preset a snap trap by placing a dab of peanut butter on the trap's trigger.  Then place the trap wherever you've seen mice, such as an opening between a wall and floor, baseboard, or behind an appliance.

Mice build their nests inside the home where they are safe from predators, are warm, and have a good supply of food. Any warm spot inside the home will do, plus they will chew paper, cloth and even insulation to build a nest to raise a family in. They are usually seen inside the home when they are foraging for food after dark. They are very flexible and can work their way through the smallest of holes, so it's no wonder that they seem to appear and disappear almost as if by magic. To be an effective mouse catcher, you have to find all the small holes in the floors and walls and plug them tightly using expanding foam or insulating putty. Some determined mice will sometimes gnaw their way through foam to get in, but not the clay-like insulating putty.

Mouse poisons are very effective for mouse eradication, although mice will die in some inconvenient location inside your home. The odor of a rotting mouse is extremely offensive, and you'll have no choice but to tear open a wall in order to locate the stinking carcass. Poisons are dangerous if used improperly, and should never be used if you have children and/or pets at home. Mouse traps are the weapon of choice if your household has children or pets, but keep in mind that some pets like the taste of peanut butter as much as mice do.

Having mice in your home is always a problem, and you should set out traps anytime you uncover signs rodent activity. You can catch a mouse using any method, including having a house cat, that works best for you. For the most effective means of catching a mouse, you can bet on the combination of peanut butter and a snap trap.

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