Mousetraps are flat surfaces typically made from fiberboard, cardboard or plastic. The surface has a strong adhesive that latches onto any animal that walks across it. The trap is placed on rodent runways which are identified by droppings, hair or damage. The trap has a low profile so the mouse is unable to identify it as a threat. A mouse that walks on the trap gets stuck and cannot free itself until you attend to it. Hire us for mice exterminator services in Toronto.
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How Effective Are Glue Traps for Mice – Why Sticky Mouse Traps are Not the Best Choice
Before committing yourself to a trap there are a thing or two you should know about it. Sticky mouse traps don’t work as well as most DIY rodent control enthusiasts claim. The trap doesn’t address the issue of how the mice are getting into your home in the first place and multiplying later at an astronomical rate. How often do mice reproduce? Just one female mouse can provide between 5-10 litters annually with 5-6 young in each litter. As a result, each mouse that is trapped simply means more food and space for the remaining colony. It is also extremely difficult to identify all the rodent runways in your home to make such trapping a viable solution.
Practicality aside, adhesive traps are one of the most inhumane ways to get rid of mice in Canada. In fact, many DIY pest control businesses refuse to sell these products.
The sticky trap only catches the rodent and doesn’t kill it. The mouse struggles until it eventually dies from exhaustion, dehydration or starvation. Some unfortunate creatures also get their noses stuck on the trap and slowly suffocate to death which can take hours.
Watching a mouse attempting to free itself from the sticky trap can be a traumatizing experience even for an adult. Some rodents will chew their own feet, desperate to get away. A lucky escapee will leave large chunks of skin and will most likely die anyway.
Canada Health cautions against using sticky mouse traps. The rodent urinates and defecates on the trap from sheer panic. These droppings may contain diseases including Hantavirus. Handling the mousetrap without proper protective gear puts you at risk of infection.
Lastly, a mousetrap doesn’t discriminate and will catch any small animal in your home. This is a concern if you have pets such as kittens, birds and snakes. Many unfortunate pets have to be euthanized by a vet because they can’t be saved.
How to free a mouse that is stuck in a glue trap
To free a mouse from a glue trap you will need the following:
- gloves
- mask
- deep cardboard box
- vegetable oil
- two sticks or two pieces of wooden beams
You feel bad that you trapped your mouse buddy in a glue trap and you do not want to watch it suffer. So how do you free it? The key is to drive at least a few kilometres away from your home and this is to prevent that the mouse cannot find its way back home. What you need to do first when you are not squeamish is to put the mouse in a box, and if the box has a flap make sure to put the mouse in a deep enough box. Next what you want to do is to go to a forested area that is not close to a residential neighbourhood. Next what you want to do is to take the mouse out with the trap. Then you want to block off the path with either two pieces of wood so the mouse does not run into you. To loosen up the binding material you can use vegetable oil to loosen up the glue.
More humane solutions to glue traps
If seeing the mouse struggle really gets to you then you can opt to buy a live trap. What it essentially does is lure the mouse into a confined compartment where it can no longer move away. It keeps the mouse in perfect shape without doing them any physical harm. Different manufacturers have several ways to release it and use different mechanisms to achieve the same result. But the same applies to the above section. You need to release the mouse away from a residential area and release the mouse in a forested area. Make sure to take precautionary measures such as wearing gloves, a mask, and two pieces of wood to create a sort of barrier between you and the trap.
Hire a Professional Pest Control Company
Mousetraps are ineffective and outright inhumane. Instead, hire a professional exterminator in Toronto – The Exterminators inc. to get rid of the infestation. These professionals use humane poisons and traps that kill the animal instantly.
The exterminator will also take care of the safe disposal of the carcasses and sanitize your house to remove all traces of disease-carrying nests, droppings and urine. Finally, the professional will rodent-proof your home using metal flashing or steel meshes to prevent a future mouse problem. Give us a call now to book a mouse inspection and control services: 647-496-2211.
