Buying a mousetrap: what to look out for?
Do mice bother you at home? Then it is advisable to buy a few mousetraps. If the mousetraps you use are of good quality and used correctly, they can provide a quick solution to the nuisance caused by mice. But what types of mousetraps are there? How do you use a mousetrap properly? And what is the best place to put a mousetrap? You can read the answers to these questions in the blog below.
Animal friendly mouse traps: do they exist?
Many people find it pathetic to use mousetraps when they suffer from these creatures at home. After all, setting mousetraps is not extremely cruel for mice? Fortunately, there are mousetraps nowadays that are animal friendly and where you don’t have to kill the mice, namely the catching cage or live catching trap (also called trip trap mousetrap). These traps are a kind of cages, in which the mouse is lured and trapped. In these types of traps there is a plastic tipping trap, through which mice can enter but can no longer exit. After catching, the mice can be released. Other similar mouse traps that are mouse friendly are the electrically operated mousetrap, contactless mousetrap and wire box mousetrap.
Ultrasonic mouse chasers: do they work?
In addition to animal-friendly mousetraps, there is a second type of mousetrap, namely the ultrasonic mouse chaser. Ultrasonic mouse chasers are devices that emit a sound, causing mice to flee. The ultrasound chasers use a smart sound technology, in which the device keeps mice at a distance by means of high tones or vibrations. Ultrasonic mice dislodges are efficient, animal friendly and also ecological because they do not use poisons.
The mouse unfriendly approach, what choices do I have?
In addition to this mouse-friendly approach, you can also use a few less animal-friendly methods to combat mice. For example, you can use poison in places where mice’ droppings lie. However, if you have children, this is not a sensible idea. In addition to poison, there are three other animal-unfriendly methods, namely: the glue board, the traditional mousetrap and the use of a cat. Below, we briefly discuss these three ways of dealing with mice.
The glue board
In the past, people used to use a so-called glue board or an adhesive strip to catch mice or rats. This involves luring mice with food or something tasty on a board that has an adhesive strip on it. The mouse or rat then sticks to the strip and dies a slow, painful death. Nowadays, glue boards are forbidden, because this is a very animal-unfriendly approach if you are troubled by mice.
The traditional mousetrap
If you do fall for a mouse unfriendly fall, there are several choices. Of course, everyone is familiar with the classic mousetrap, in which an iron clamp is clamped on it and it comes loose when the mouse enters the trap while eating. The mouse gets stuck with its neck and dies.
A cat
A method that is also possible if you want to catch mice is to use a cat. This is advantageous, but just like the glue board, for example, it is not the most animal-friendly method of catching mice.
Mousetrap tips
Finally, we have some tips and tricks for you if you use a mousetrap, whatever type of trap, to tackle the infestation of mice in your home or business:
- Tip: mouse food – Many people think that cheese is the best lure for mice. But there are several food products that work better, namely: peanut butter, small bread balls, small pieces of bacon or sausage.
- Tip: place of the mousetrap – The best place to put the mousetrap or trap is where mice have left their tracks (such as gnawing tracks or faeces). Place the opening of the trap as close as possible to a wall or under a locker.
- Tips: releasing mice – Do you opt for an animal-friendly mousetrap and then release the captured mice? Then make sure that you release them at least four kilometres from your home or business. Otherwise you run the risk that the mice will return.
