Content:
Rats and mice are common pests that people deal with daily. They can be both destructive and harmful. There are ways of controlling them without having to resort to poison.
The two main types of mouse control methods are baits and traps. But which one to choose – traps vs baits?
Baits involve using food as bait, while trapping involves a physical trap to trap the rodent.
In this blog, we show you the difference between these two types of control methods.
Mousetraps
Mousetraps are mechanical devices that use a spring mechanism to trap the rodent. The traps lure the mice when they come looking for food or water supplies.
You can also place these traps indoors if you have an infestation. Keeping mice out of your home is difficult. Rodents can crawl through small spaces to your home undetected.
Mousetraps work well on their own. However, there may be no results even after placing several different ones around your house and garden area. This happens when other animals such as cats mess with the bait, and you have to reset it again.
Mousetraps aim to deliver a fatal blow to the mouse. The process involves dropping, crushing, or stabbing the rodent with spikes.
You can use poison as bait for your trap, but there are some risks associated with that. If you have children and pets, this may not be an option for you because they could also ingest it.
Mousetraps are ideal for indoors and small spaces where they cannot be seen easily by the cat or any other scavengers that may enter your home. You can leave these out in the open and reset them often to catch more rodents until there is no trace of infestation left behind.
Here are some common mousetraps:
Snap Traps
These are the most common mouse traps. The traps consist of two metal pieces that snap together, killing or trapping the rodent.
A metal bar holds these pieces apart. When a mouse tries to take food from it, it gives way, causing both parts to close and trap it.
Coil Spring Type Traps
This kind of trap has an advantage over some other types. The traps can be reused more than once. They are cost-effective and efficient at catching rodents trying to get into your house.
They work by placing mouse baits and setting up one end with pressure points so that when triggered by the mouse walking on top of it will release this end, making the coil spring snap shut, trapping the rodent.
Glue Boards
These are non-lethal methods of catching mice. They don’t kill the rodents, so you will have to dispose of them after catching them.
They work by placing a sticky glue which, when triggered, the mouse becomes irreversibly stuck until you come around to remove it. This kind isn’t very effective because only one rodent can get caught at a time.
Electronic Traps
These are a bit dangerous for kids and pets to be around. They work by sending an electric shock through the rodent, killing it instantly.
They can trigger themselves unexpectedly if you have them set up wrong or have wires touching each other. If used correctly, this type of trap is very effective at trapping mice. Dispose of the mice safely outside, away from humans.
Pros:
- Used indoors and outdoors
- Fast-acting, the trap will kill the rodent in a matter of seconds
- Less hazardous to children and pets compared to poison baits
- Efficient at trapping rodents quickly once set up correctly
Cons:
- Requires frequent checking to make sure the trap is clear
- It can be expensive if you buy several of them at once for many mice
- Some people feel that killing animals in this way is cruel and unnecessary, even when they are causing damage indoors by stealing food resources or spreading disease among your family members
Baits
Mouse bait is a lethal and common poison used to eliminate mice. These baits come in different forms like:
- Pastes: These are a mixture of grain and bait that comes in the form of a dough
- Blocks: These come in different shapes, sizes, and compositions, but they all contain poison as an active ingredient within them. These can be toxic to humans, so it is essential to use them only in mice sightings.
- Pellets: These are highly toxic and designed to kill the rodent as soon as it ingests them
You place it near the area where you suspect they are coming from or their entry points into your home.
These poisons work by causing internal bleeding, which essentially causes them to bleed to death. You can detect their presence by seeing blood trails or finding dead bodies in the common areas they inhabit.
Mouse bait is often used indoors and in places where pets and children cannot access them. You can place the baits outside but make sure they are inaccessible to other animals or people who mistake them for food.
The best type of poison can kill the rodents in a single dose and quickly too. It should also be strong enough to kill within minutes after ingestion.
Pros:
- Can stop rodents in their tracks. They’ll still be alive but motionless up until eaten by predators.
- No harm done to your garden or yard when used correctly and responsibly can prevent any damage caused by mice around the setup area
- Used in extensive scale rodent control
Cons:
- Potential toxin risks when misused, never use poison mouse baits with any other kinds of bait or in conjunction with anything else
- It can be a bit messy if not set up correctly
Things to Consider
Predator control measures come with their share of pros and cons. The outcome depends on the type of infestation you deal with and how severe it has become over time.
Measures that work best will depend on:
- The target area: Is it large/small, does it have clear boundaries, is it easy to access?
- Target species: House mouse, roof rat, what’s your target species?
- The type of infestation: Is it a few individuals, or is there an actual colony present?
- Personal preferences and individual needs: Do you want to do the trapping quickly, or do you require long-term control measures?
- Where you are placing the traps: Indoor or outdoor, kitchen vs. basement, etc
- Experience and skill level: How much experience do you have in pest control?
Which Should You Choose?
Mousetraps can be a better option when dealing with smaller infestations of mice, while poison bait is the best choice for large-scale rodent control.
All these factors and more so will determine the best method. It’s essential to talk about your pest problem with a professional exterminator before setting out any control measures.
They’ll come up with a solution based on what works and an integrated pest management perspective. This won’t be the end of your problems, but it will help eliminate them for good.
