How to trap a mouse?

[watcher]

Ok, I've caught a lot of mice in my life time, I even caught one in a #1 steel leg hold trap, but now I need help.

For the last week I've been after one that likes to dance on my stove and counter. So far he has sprung 7 traps (two last night) but I have yet to catch him. I've used the two old stand by baits. He licks the peanut butter off the trap and he eats the bacon but leaves the thread. If it wasn't for the. . .ah evidence he leaves laying around I'd accuse one of the dogs of doing it. They all like peanut butter as well as bacon.

I'm almost to the point of buying some shotshells for my 22 pistol and try spotlighting him one night.

So any suggestions? BTW poison is out because I can't take the chance of one of my other critters eating the body.

[M5farm]

YouTube

this kind of t rap works good as I have used them in the feed room of my barn

[JohnL751]

A few years ago I installed one of those doggie doors in a basement window. Just hours later I was watching TV and saw a mouse run along the wall behind the TV. I went and looked and sure enough the dog tried to bring a stick through that door and got it stuck, leaving a two inch gap. A half hour later, I got that mouse with a .22 LR HP. It took out the heart and lungs plus both shoulders.

[COWS]

If it is a Victor snap trap feel and see if the trigger part that is stamped out of flat steel has some rough spots on it. If so, polish with fine sandpaper. Lubricate with a little cooking oil. Be careful setting it, it should have a hair trigger now.

Put bait in trigger. A piece of pecan has worked well for me. Bacon tied to the trigger should work. Anyway, I have had good results by wrapping the bait in Scotch Tape, leaving the end facing away from the trap open, but wrapping the rest tightly. object is to make the mouse start chewing the tape away. Good luck.

COWS

[Maura]

You could use the above drown solution, but use large cans instead. Give him a ramp to climb up to the rim. A piece of string or yarn and a toilet paper roll with PB.

[simi-steading]

Yep.. repeating bucket traps.. I've got a whole lot of mice in them, It's nice one trap can catch as many hungry mice as you have in one night without having to reset it..

[farmerDale]

Yup, the 5 gallon bucket is my go to as well. Like tin repeating traps, the mice inside, splishing and splashing in there, only serve to attract more mice. Works excellent...

[unregistered41671]

I have used the 5 gal bucket outside with success. If the mouse travels the counter top you might need something smaller. I figure a metal 2lb coffee can would work with some empty thread bobbins and peanut butter.

[fishhead]

Put your peanut butter under the trigger and far enough under that he can't lick it without lifting the trigger with his forehead.

I've never missed a mouse in one of these traps and one fall I trapped at least 55. http://www.healthypets.com/victorqui...Fe1cMgodDEwAUw

Put the peanut butter on the underside of the upper jaw so the mouse stands on the trigger to lick the peanut butter.

[mnn2501]

When I was much much younger we had a friend that had a cabin in northern Minnesota, he left a bucket and can trap with about 5 inches of water in it to drown them. One time he was there and set it but then didn't make it back up there for about a month. The smell was horrendous: dead drowned mice, maggots. I still cringe when I think of it.

[farmerDale]

No one said it would be pretty, mnn2501!!!

[Brighton]

I had to get new traps this year, the spring were worn out, so the mice were getting away. Might want to spring for a few new traps, I get them at our hardware store, they cost me $2 for four new traps.

[simi-steading]

I unset my bucket trap when we leave the farm house.... We walked in one time and the stench was unreal. I told my wife I KNOW I unset the trap.... I went over to it, and evidently a mouse had climbed up a table leg it was near and jumped into the bucket... he had been marinating in his own juices for a while.. I learned after that. Put it in the middle of the room when we leave...

[Foxy]

We don't use any bait in our mouse traps we make a 'walk through trail set' with them. Just set the trap, place the long way against a wall where the mice travel and push a cardboard box (longer than the trap) up to the trap. Leave a quarter inch of space between the trap and box so the spring has room to fire. They follow along the wall, go behind the box and when they get to the trap they jump on the pan to get over it...dead mouse.

If you put anti freeze in the bucket sets the dead mice will be preserved forever and never smell. Just be sure no other animal can get at it (like your dog) and flush the dead mice down the toilet so nothing can eat them.

[Rectifier]

I put my mouse poison in "tin cat" traps. That way they die inside and the dog can't eat them.
We used to get old feta cheese 5 gal pails from a friend's Greek restaurant. No bait required, mice just jump right in!
Sounds grim but we used to put no water in them, mice would die of dehydration and the new mice would eat the carcasses of the dead mice, and it would catch for months with no smell or attention. Slowly fills up with little mice bones
Note: we live in a dry climate that mummifies dead mice

[MattC]

Like this! A chapter in my sons boyhood manly arts training with his dad.

[HOTW]

Originally Posted by MattC

Like this! A chapter in my sons boyhood manly arts training with his dad.

Oh WOW I have never before seen a mouse fur rug!!!!!!

[Harry Chickpea]

[fishhead]

There's a lot of stink in a little mouse.

Unbaited wooden traps work well when placed perpendicular against the wall. Then you place an object like a boot so that it leaves a 1" space between the boot and the wall to force the mouse over the trigger.

[watcher]

Got the little vermin!!! I rubbed hamburger grease on the underside of the trigger AND sat it behind the microwave so he'd have to walk over it. Got him by the head so I'm think it was the grease which did the trick.

Now if he's the only one I'll be alright.