mousetrap and cheese
As a smart and creative human, you might perceive mice as low-intelligence beings you could undoubtedly outwit on any given day.
However, mice actually have a brain-to-body mass ratio that is about the same as humans. Mice are surprisingly smart and able to use their learning and memory skills to their advantage after taking up residence in your home.
From the extermination pros at Precise Termite & Pest Control, here are some tips for how to catch a mouse when traps don’t work.
Issues with a Mouse Avoiding Traps
Mice are smart and sneaky little rodents skilled at finding various hiding spots in a house.
For example, mice may dodge traps and hide in attics, basements, and crawl spaces because they are dark, quiet, and often free from human activity. They might also hide in walls after chewing through drywall and kitchen pantries because of the abundance of food inside.
Many things attract mice to a house, including easily accessible food, standing water, piles of clutter, and warm spaces in the winter. This is problematic because mice are known disease carriers that can spread hantavirus, leptospirosis, and bacterial infections to humans.
How to Handle Mice Avoiding Traps
If you are dealing with mice that aren’t falling for the traps you’ve set out, it’s time to take other action.
You could start by setting various types of traps, such as glue, snap, and live traps to see if one is more effective than the rest. Another idea is to try different baits, such as peanut butter, cheese, bacon, or cotton balls they could use for their nests.
When existing traps don’t work, you could also try using nuts, seeds, marshmallows, and pet food as bait. However, be careful not to use too much bait because doing so can allow mice to eat the bait without triggering the trap to snap. Setting up more traps in strategic areas can increase your chances of catching mice in your home.
It’s crucial to place mouse traps in high-traffic areas that are directly in their paths. Placement is usually most successful along the walls and when you place the bait facing the wall. After you catch a mouse, clean or replace the trap so that it doesn’t contain previous mouse debris that might deter other mice from entering the trap next.
Beyond just traps, you might also try natural deterrents for mice, such as essential oils in strong scents like peppermint and citronella. Cat litter and bay leaves may also help deter mice because of their strong sense of smell.
Mouse Traps Not Working? Call Us!
If none of these DIY techniques are working, it’s time to call in the professionals. Precise has been helping northern New Jersey homeowners get rid of their mice for over 30 years.
Our mouse control services eliminate and prevent future infestations so that you always feel safe and comfortable in your home. Our exterminators are experienced in using a combination of mouse control techniques, such as trapping, poisoning, habitat modification, and exclusion.
When you call us to handle your mice situation, you reduce your risk of bites and disease while learning practical tips for keeping your home mouse-free in the future. For your free mouse inspection or to learn more about our professional mouse control, please call us at 866-971-2847 or contact us online.