Einstein the Mouse...How to catch him, her, it?

Question

With the temperature dropping, and a wooded area that has been cleared behind our house, our fears have just been confirmed...mice.
The first night I saw one I rushed out and bought the conventional spring loaded trap and nailed one on the first try. A couple of nights later, while my wife and I sat comfortably on our sofa, another one ran across the floor.
Now I'm playing Tom and Jerry with them (at least one that I know of). I've tried both peanut butter and cheese. This morning I checked the trap and the mouse had eaten the cheese around the metal hook that is supposed to set off the trap...like he knew what NOT to touch.
I think I'm dealing with a wiley veteran mouse here...any advice other than calling Orkin?

Answer 1

Sounds like you are using too much bait. Try using just a little peanut butter, never use cheese. The smell will bring it in, don't put enough on the metal hook to keep the mouse happy.

Answer 2

You might try investing in a different kind of trap, first of all. When we had our little run-in with these rather unlpeasant houseguests, I started using Victor brand traps and ended with the same result you've got now; They would either be able to eat around the metal trigger, or they could just clean lift the cheese without springing it. I moved on to Tomcat brand traps, and they seem to have a much tighter response to that trigger- if I stomped on the ground next to one it would spring. They are, of course a little trickier to set since they're so sensitive, but even the craftiest and most careful of mouses seemed to fall victim. I took up another past-time during our infestation, too, and I -did- get to be a remarkably good shot with a .177 pellet pistol, just be careful you don't nick anything valuable if you take that approach too. ;-)

Good luck getting rid of them, sounds like they've certainly already overstayed their welcome.

Answer 3

Rats,mice,opossum...just keep it up..they do learn to recognize situations:try moving the trap to new location(s)and keep switching types of bait used,you could also baiting and disposing for sometime,I,d use trap And Poison bait that has additive to reduce smell of decomposition.

Answer 4

Get the sticky rat or mouse papers. They can't get loose once they are stuck to it.

Answer 5

what ever you do,don't use any poison. they can die inside your walls and smell for months. get a cat