Not a single owner of an apartment or house will like being next to mice. But many people prefer humane ways pest control. They will be interested in methods of making traps and recommendations on how to catch a mouse in an apartment without using poison or mousetraps.
A mouse has settled in the house
You can determine that small rodents have settled in an apartment by several signs:
- rustling or squeaking at night;
- the appearance of gnawed packages of cereals or other products, the remains of husks in the corners of the boxes;
- Mouse droppings are present in the habitats: dry black excrement;
- there are gnawed holes in baseboards or near water pipes;
- After some time, a persistent specific smell appears.
The first desire of the apartment owner will be to get rid of the pests that have settled in, to catch them in any way. However, catching a fast running mouse yourself is not so easy. Although some sites advise people to test their quick reaction and catch animals by hand with a towel at the ready.
Methods for exterminating mice
The most common methods are aimed at their destruction. Methods that help kill a mouse:
- Ready-made mousetraps, which are sold in a store or on the market, work as follows: with the help of a tasty bait, a pest is lured there, a special mechanism is triggered that kills it.
- Glue traps are a rather cruel method. You need to buy special glue and apply it in strips on cardboard or a board. It is placed in the center, and when trying to reach it, the animal becomes tightly glued. The glued mouse squeaks and squirms violently until it dies from hunger and thirst, which often looks terrible and heartbreaking.
- Another option is a glue house, sold in the store with a sticky layer already applied inside. The mouse gets stuck inside the device, trying to get food, then all that remains is to throw away the house along with it. has an attractive aroma, which helps to catch a rodent.
- The use of poisons helps to quickly kill pests, but has some disadvantages. This method cannot be used when pets or small children live in the apartment to avoid poisoning them. Extremely negative consequence is a fact that the corpses of dead pests in secluded places begin to decompose and exude bad smell, which is then difficult to get rid of in an apartment.
- Placing a cat or ferret in the house that will catch rodents is also not the best option, because modern soft furry pets have completely lost the skills of catching them, and some even allow them to play with themselves or eat from their own bowl.
Therefore, many homeowners prefer to use more humane methods that allow them to catch a mouse in an apartment alive in a set trap.
How to catch a live mouse
Most people would prefer to catch a rodent without a mousetrap, without killing it, and then release it away from their home, giving it freedom and life.
Methods for catching mice:
- The easiest way is to catch mice at home in glass jar capacity 0.5 l or 1 l. The bait is glued to its bottom, turned over with the hole down and placed with the edge on the edge of the coin. When the mouse tries to get food, it crawls inside, the coin falls, and the jar covers the prey. Similarly you can use flower pot and other suitable containers in quality.
- To or use a trap from plastic bottle– bait is placed inside it, and a thread is tied to the neck. The bottle must be hung in such a way that the bottom hangs and can be rested on the edges of the shelf. For free access, a board is placed on which the rodent will climb inside, then the bottle hangs on a rope from a push. It will be impossible for a mouse to get out of the bottle.
- A trap is made from a shoebox, and the bait is attached to the center with a rope. It is turned upside down, the bait should hang on a thread. The edges are placed on supports: matches or pieces of cardboard. Due to the instability of the structure, when the pest tries to get to the food, the box will fall and cover it.
- To catch a mouse in the house, you can make a trap from a bucket with a spinning bottle: for this you will need a 0.5 liter plastic bottle, which you need to pierce with a knitting needle through the bottom and lid. The knitting needle needs to be secured to the top of a standing bucket, and tasty food should be spread on the bottle. The mouse climbs to the top of the bucket along the attached plank, tries to reach the bait, the bottle spins, and the rodent falls down. It is better to pour some water into the bucket, as it will be harder for a wet animal to get out.
- The design is made from a standing three-liter jar in which treats are placed at the bottom. So that the mouse can climb up, they build a ladder from a stack of books. Having climbed up the books, she jumps into a jar for food, but will not be able to get back out.
In stores you can also find mousetrap designs that do not kill, but only help catch animals.
A ready-made house for catching rodents or a live trap is a type of mousetrap. Its difference is that the animal comes inside, trying to take the bait, pulls the wire: the mechanism is triggered, and the door quickly slams shut. The mouse is caught, all that remains is to get it out of there and release it into the wild.
You can catch mice using a self-made box of squares metal mesh, fastened with wire. The door is made on one of the sides, opens from top to bottom and is attached to a spring to which a thread with bait is tied. Pulling on a piece of food, the mouse pulls the thread, breaks it, and the door slams.
On a note!
Recently, house mousetraps made of galvanized wire mesh have appeared on sale; they look like a small inverted colander with a lid. There is a wire hole made in them at the top, through which the rodent climbs in for a tasty, aromatic bait, but can no longer get out. The caught animal is released into nature, away from home. The design can be used repeatedly.
Trap location and bait
It is better to place traps or houses in dark corners of the room, where mice rustle most often. To do this, you need to watch and listen for several days: find the mouse or determine the places of its active life. Often such devices are placed near mouse reserves, where the animal runs for food.
If the rustling sound is heard in an inaccessible place, then it is better to place the trap next to it. For example, you can lure a rodent out from under a closet or sofa using an attractive smell and tasty food.
Interesting!
Many experts in home mouse catching recommend beer, the smell of which is very fond of modern rodents. Some traps are made from unwashed glass beer bottles.
Having considered various methods How to catch a mouse in a house without a mousetrap, every owner of an apartment or house will choose any of the humane methods that are based on luring the mouse out of a warm hole with bait and then catching it in a trap.
Small cute animals only look harmless and fragile, but in fact, the presence of mice in the house means a lot of trouble. They carry potentially dangerous diseases for humans, destroy food supplies, damage furniture and books, and are also so small that they can penetrate holes no more than six to seven millimeters wide. Catching mice usually involves setting traps in areas where animals move, but you can get rid of annoying guests without the use of special equipment.
How to catch a mouse
To check whether there really are mice in the house, you just need to sprinkle a little flour in the “suspicious” areas where the animals supposedly live, and see if traces appear the next morning. Depending on personal preferences, you can choose different ways catching mice - from harmless to quite cruel. It should be kept in mind that these rodents rarely leave their nests during the day, so you need to set traps at night.
A mouse is dangerous to humans because it can cause a dangerous infection, especially if it gets into foodInteresting fact. Mice's incisors grow throughout their lives, so animals are forced to constantly grind them down, gnawing on everything. With the help of its teeth, the animal can destroy structures made of wood, concrete and even metal.
Killer Mousetrap
Old, tried and true, but not always in an effective way To catch the mouse is to use a mousetrap. The latter may be industrial production and vary in designs. The principle of operation of such a device is to lure a rodent and then kill or injure it through a special mechanism.
Table: traps that kill rodents
| Traps made of steel and (or) wood | A reliable and proven product that often kills the pest outright. You can use lard, raisins, peanut butter, and smoked meats as bait. |
| Mouse traps | Better and more reliable than similar mechanisms made of wood and metal, due to greater efficiency, less risk of injury to humans, simplified design and versatility. |
| Mousetrap | A simple but not very effective design. The principle of operation is to lure the animal and suffocate it with a steel loop. |
| Electric mousetrap | The principle of operation is based on luring and shocking the rodent electric current. A relatively humane tool for killing mice. |
Photo gallery: types of mousetraps
A classic mousetrap consists of a wooden plank and a metal spring. On sale you can find an improved version of the classic mousetrap. An electric mousetrap electrocutes a mouse.
Humane traps
Not everyone will enjoy killing or maiming a living creature, even a very harmful one. Manufacturers specializing in the production of rat and mouse traps have developed a large number humane mousetraps that do not harm animals. As a rule, the operating principle of such products is based on luring the animal using bait into a cage (box, container) with an automatically closing door. The caught troublemaker can then be released. It is recommended to do this at least one kilometer from home.
A mouse caught in a cage mousetrap remains alive Table: traps that do not harm the animal
How to make a mousetrap with your own hands
You can get rid of mice in your home by purchasing one (or several for greater effectiveness) of the industrial-made traps listed above. But what should you do if rodents surprise you late in the evening, or store-bought traps and live traps don’t work properly? Make a mousetrap for a quick fix using improvised means is not as difficult as it seems, you just need a little patience and ingenuity.
There is an improved version of the cage mousetrap: the so-called live trap Making a mousetrap using a plastic bottle
There are many options for catching mice using a plastic bottle. Depending on the location of objects in the house, the habitats of rodents and other factors, you can modify and vary the method of making and installing traps, you just need a little imagination.
How to catch a mouse right in a bottle
The easiest way:
- Take plastic bottle.
- For reliability, you can lubricate the walls inside the container vegetable oil.
- Place bait.
- Secure the bottle at an angle so that the mouse can climb into it from the floor or other surface.
A simple and reliable mousetrap can be made from a plastic bottle Plastic design for catching mice
Complicated way:
- Take the bottle.
- Cut it in half.
- Lubricate both parts with oil on the inside.
- Place bait.
- Place the upper part in the lower part with the neck down, securing the structure with paper clips.
A mouse trap can be made from a cut plastic bottle Trap from a bottle and string
For this method you will need a thin but strong rope.
Algorithm of actions:
- Take a plastic bottle.
- Tie a rope up to 50 cm long to the neck.
The length of the rope should not exceed 50 cm - Place bait in the container.
The bait is placed inside the bottle - Attach the other end of the rope to the table with tape.
One end of the rope is attached to the table - Place the bottle on the edge of the table in a horizontal position, and it is important to balance it correctly.
You need to place the bottle so that it doesn’t roll anywhere.
Mousetrap made from a bucket and a plastic bottle
To make it you need to do the following:
- Take a small plastic bottle.
- Use an awl to make holes in the lid and at the end.
- Insert a knitting needle or a straight piece of wire 1–2 mm in diameter into the holes.
- Attach bait to the bottle.
- Grease a bucket with oil or fill it halfway with water.
- Place the bottle on top of the knitting needle (wire).
- Place a piece of board against the bucket.
When caught in a trap, the mouse ends up in a bucket of water Trap from a cut bottle
Another option self-made traps:
- Take the bottle.
- On the side where the bottom is located, cut strips 3 cm wide and half its circumference long.
- Sharpen them and bend them inside the bottle. This way, the animal that gets inside will not be able to get out.
- Place a piece of chocolate or a loaf soaked in sunflower oil in the trap.
Video: how to make a trap from a plastic bottle
An easy way to catch a mouse in a bucket
A very simple but effective “trap” can be made from an ordinary bucket:
- Fill it halfway with water.
- Place it at the edge of a table or chair.
- Place a school ruler with bait on the edge of the surface above the container, maintaining balance so that the structure does not fall into the bucket.
Before the mouse reaches the bait, it will fall into a bucket of water How to catch a mouse with a jar
The design is very unstable, but nevertheless can be very effective. You need to do the following: Instead of a jar, you can use a wide glass or any other container with smooth edges. The trap is made with glue designed specifically for catching mice.
What is the best bait to use?
Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not very attractive to mice. Given a choice, they will most likely choose other favorite products.
Table: TOP 10 goodies for mice
| Smoked lard | A very small piece is enough, because you don’t need to feed, but to catch the rodent. |
| Sunflower oil | It is best to use unrefined, more aromatic. |
| White bread | To increase the effect, you can drop a little sunflower oil on a piece. |
| Roasted seeds, especially pumpkin seeds | Three or four pieces are enough to attract rodents. It's better to clean them for a stronger smell. In principle, mice love almost all types of seeds and nuts, but some of them attract rodents more, and some less. Pumpkin seeds belong to the first category. |
| Peanut | It is also better to use it fried. A couple of pieces are enough. |
| Smoked sausage | A small piece can drive a mouse crazy and forget about caution. Best results can be achieved with a product prepared naturally, without the use of dyes, preservatives or flavor enhancers. |
| Cold smoked fish | Smoked fish attracts many animals like a magnet, and mice are no exception. It must be kept in mind that the product must be fresh and natural. |
| Cookie | You can use flavored, for example, vanilla scented. |
| Salted bacon with garlic | Salty lard itself attracts mice, and the aroma of garlic enhances the effect. |
How to catch a mouse in the house? Mice are very annoying roommates. If mice appear in your house or apartment, it is advisable to get rid of them as soon as possible so that they do not start breeding.
After all, when their numbers increase exponentially, your headache will also increase.
Let's look at ways to get rid of these unpleasant rodents in your home.
1) First of all, you should think in advance about get a cat. By their nature, these animals are very peculiar. Thus, it has been noted that cats are better predators than males, whose brains completely turn off as spring approaches due to the onset of mating season.
But reverse side medal is the fact that modern cats in big cities are not accustomed to hunting, since food is most often presented to them by the owners themselves on a cozy plate.
So you shouldn’t pamper your pet too much or choose other methods of getting rid of mice in your apartment.
2) The mousetrap has always been considered very effective means . Now there are several varieties of them, but the most modern and effective is still electric. Also use old mechanical, working on the spring principle.
Well, if you are a convinced humanist and do not want to kill a mouse, then use adhesive mousetrap. The rodent will stick to it, after which it will be easy to remove it from your home. 
3) Mousetraps tend to act instantly; you will most likely learn about their operation when “the fish is hooked.” But there is still a possibility that it will only injure the animal, and it will go to the bowels of your apartment, or rather its walls, to die.
It is in order to avoid this trouble, which will lead to an unpleasant smell, that we can recommend using “old-fashioned methods”.
4) One of the long-used remedies for mice in the house is glass jar containers from two to three liters. Its walls need to be thoroughly lubricated with vegetable oil, although do not touch the first 5-10 centimeters from the neck.
Then, at the bottom of the jar, put bait with a strong smell that is attractive to rodents, preferably smoked food. Place the jar on an inclined plane or rest it on a stand.
When the mouse gets inside the jar, its paws, sliding along the lubricated walls of the vessel, will not allow it to get back out.
5) You can also do it yourself build a mousetrap out of cardboard box . Simply cut off the edges of the box on one side, and prop up the resulting lid with matches or other breakable supports (such as spaghetti).
The mouse will climb inside the bait placed there and begin to scurry around, eating it. This is where the supports won’t hold up, breaking under the weight of the lid and hiding the mouse inside the trap.
True, this method is not reliable, since much depends on the accuracy of the calculations and the quality of the “trap” itself.
6) Some craftsmen manage to make a mouse trap from an empty paper towel roll. It is simply placed on the edge of the table, and rodent bait is placed at the end that hangs from this very edge.
There is a bucket under the table at this time. The mouse will climb inside, begin to eat the bait and, under its own weight, quickly go into the trash in the literal sense of the word.
It will be even more difficult for her to get out of the bucket if you smear its walls with vegetable oil, as we did before in the case of a jar.
7)You can make a trap from a plastic bottle. We just cut off the bottom. We make notches and bend them inward. The mouse will climb inside, lured by the bait, but will no longer be able to get out, since the teeth will push against it.
It is a mistake to think that rodents are attracted to cheese - this is all a stereotype that has nothing to do with the truth and most likely imposed by children's cartoons.
It is best if you store all the cereals and grains for preparing your favorite dishes in containers with a tight lid, and not in ordinary plastic bags.
Remember that even people living in apartments on upper floors, are not immune from the appearance of mice in the house. These animals, especially on the eve of winter, are looking for a place where they will be warm, comfortable and fed. So no one is insured.
remember, that I,sprinkled into mice food,not always effective. Rodents usually just don’t die right away from it.
And if this happens when they crawl into the hole, it will be very difficult to remove the foul-smelling body. It is quite possible that your expensive repairs will suffer greatly from this...
If you still use mousetraps, then install several of them. This will increase the likelihood of catching a mouse, and if it is already more than one, it can guarantee you greater speed and efficiency in catching unwanted roommates.
We wish you that you don’t have to use the suggested tips, but if you still couldn’t avoid the appearance of mice in your home, then they will come in handy!
If there are rodents in your house, you urgently need to get rid of them. They not only cause inconvenience with their rustling and squeaking, but are also carriers of various diseases. Mice are quite cunning and fast, so in order to catch them, you need to use the following methods.
The most effective way to catch mice is to use poisons. Mouse poison is sold in hardware stores and is inexpensive. When in contact with poison, be sure to wear protective rubber gloves. Pieces of poison are placed in places where, in your opinion, unwanted rodents appear. Do not leave poison on open table surfaces, as the residue may accidentally end up in your food. If there are pets or small children in the apartment, it is not recommended to use poisons. The most common method includes various traps. They come with springs or a sticky layer, there are even electric models. Their purpose is to use a tightly attached bait to attract the mouse inside the device. After the bait is eaten, the mousetrap mechanism is triggered and the rodent can no longer get out. It is better to use meat or sausage as bait; the smoked aroma will quickly attract mice.
After you have managed to get rid of mice, clean your apartment using chemicals based on chlorine. And seal all possible entrances for mice, even the smallest and narrowest cracks.
