Trap Faq’s
1. How does the mouse get in?
The average house mouse can jump up to 17″ high. This trap stands 8″ tall. If you want to help him (or her) out a little, you can stack a couple of books next to the trap.
2. Can’t the mouse chew through the plastic bottle?
Yes, if given enough time the mouse can and will chew through the plastic. But don’t forget that this is a humane mouse trap, and it is not humane to keep a mouse trapped in a plastic bottle for long periods of time. Wild mice will die in captivity within just a few hours, so check your trap often.
3. Where should I place the trap?
The trap should be placed wherever there are signs of mouse activity (droppings, torn bags, etc). Make sure you remove any other food that the mouse (or mice) could get into. Also, mice tend to walk along the wall. Placing a trap along the wall in it’s path is recommended.
4. Why the cooking spray?
The cooking spray serves 2 purposes- First, it helps the mouse down into the hole. Second, it prevents him from being able to grab onto the spout and somehow pull himself out. Would the trap work without it? Probably, it is just an additional step to help make the trap more effective.
5. What is the best bait to use?
Whole grain cereal and peanut butter, in my opinion. Mice love grains, but the smell of peanut butter travels much further than the smell of cereal. But please experiment and post your findings here.
6. Now that I have captured the mouse, what do I do with it?
Most mice do not survive well in the wild, especially house mice. They are easy prey for just about any predator, and will quickly be killed if proper precautions are not taken when releasing them.
It would be best to find a place where the mouse would be sheltered, or could easily run to shelter- in a pile of wood or rocks maybe. Also, you may supply it with some food to help it get started in his new environment.
