Trapping Mice 101

Editor’s Note: Michael Thome, A.C.E., P.H.E., contributed to this article.

Trapping mice can be one of the most challenging experiences in our industry. Working in accounts that have restrictions on material usage, dealing with an elusive rodent that is trap shy, or taking over an account where previous companies could not manage the issue can all add challenges to eliminating rodents from that environment. However, when you find the right technique, it can be very rewarding. So, what are some techniques that you can use to help reduce the population or catch that one crafty mouse within your account?

PLACE DEVICES IN THE BEST SPOTS. It sounds simple, right? Find the evidence (rub marks, droppings, urine pillars, gnawing damage, etc.) and put out traps.

What happens when mice are moving in a wall void where you have no access or are emerging from a small opening leading into a floor void? You can’t install devices in the area, so we must think outside of the box. Try installing access panels within a cupboard to access the floor void or lowering devices down into a void space using a pulley system.

What about spots that are not stable enough to hold a trap on their own, such as piping or wiring? Materials like wire, heavy-duty Velcro, double-sided tape or Hercules putty can secure traps to pipes, walls or other runways where mice are traveling. Essentially, find a way to get your devices where the mice are.

USE DIFFERENT LURES. If your go-to lure is peanut butter, but the mice aren’t feeding on the peanut butter, switch it up! It’s possible that the population has associated that peanut butter with danger from previous exposures; thus, they avoid it.

Find out what the mice are feeding on and use that in your devices. Initially, provide a wide range of food items to best target these mice. Is there something that could be missing from their diet? Add it! From marsh-mallow paste to chocolate sauce, strawberry jam to bacon grease, and even sardines or bubble gum, the possibilities are endless. Weather getting cooler? Utilize materials such as cotton balls, tissue paper or bits of insulation on some traps. Mice (especially pregnant mice) will use this to build their nests and stay warm. If possible, pre-bait your traps. Pre-baiting before setting traps can show you what these mice are drawn to and help dial in your baiting options. Additionally, it establishes the trap as a safe place to feed and can increase catch rates once set.

USE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAPS. Mice exposed to only one type of trap can learn to avoid those devices. New devices (especially pre-baited ones) may help to stimulate curiosity and increase initial captures. If wood-based wire snap traps are in place, try using clamshell snap traps (and vice versa). Use all the tools in your toolbox!

DISGUISE YOUR TRAPS. If rodents associate devices with danger, try to mask them to get those needed captures. Burying devices in loose insulation, shredded newspaper, Styrofoam pellets or other materials will hide the device from mice but are still light enough to not set off the trigger. When possible, place mouse droppings around the traps to get the scent of mice there and help lure them in. You may not get an abundance of captures this way, but if you are trying to get those few elusive mice or that one tricky mouse, you only need it to work once!

With these tips and a bit of luck, you can be the savior your client dreams of by ridding them of their rampaging rodents.

Jeremy Southgate is a technical support auditor for Abell Pest Control, supporting branches in the Greater Toronto area and across the U.S. With more than 13 years of experience, he is a current associate certified entomologist and a proud member of the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (upmtc.org) and Pi Chi Omega.