How to Catch Mice in the House

Mice may be cute, but wild mice in the home can transfer diseases, damage property, leave droppings and cause fires by gnawing through electrical wires. Since mice are nocturnal, they can be difficult to spot --- squeaking or scattering noises, a musky odor, the presence of small dark droppings that are pointed on each end or tiny gnaw marks all indicate a mouse infestation. You can catch mice humanely with a live-catch mousetrap, available at hardware and farm supply stores.

Hardware cloth or steel wool
Caulk or staples
Cracker or apple
Live-catch trap

Instructions

- 1
  Store food in the freezer or refrigerator or in airtight containers to eliminate mouse food sources outside the traps. Wipe down countertops and sweep floors to eliminate crumbs, and dispose of uneaten pet food during the nighttime hours.
- 2
  Seal cracks and holes that are ¼ inch wide or larger with hardware cloth and staples or steel wool mixed with caulk. To prevent trapping mice inside walls, where they may die and cause strong odors, add a one-way swinging door to the hardware cloth seal. To do this, cut a ½-inch-wide hole in the hardware cloth and cover the hole with a larger piece of hardware cloth that's hinged at the top with staples or wire. This allows mice to escape without returning inside the wall.
- 3
  Set a live-catch trap with the opening parallel to the wall. Place a cracker or apple slice with a dab of peanut butter inside the trap to attract mice.
- 4
  Release mice in a forested, nonresidential area near a water source, at least 1 mile away from your home.

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