You can catch mice on glue traps by simply placing them around the house with the sticky side up in the areas where they are likely to scurry. However, glue traps don’t necessarily kill the pest so you need to dispose of the mouse in a humane way.
Glue traps are a highly effective way of catching mice. Once a mouse gets stuck on a glue trap, it is practically impossible for them to break free on their own.
However, glue traps are also a controversial mouse trap because many consider it an inhumane way of getting rid of mice. So, how do you catch a mouse on a glue trap without causing it too much distress?
Read on to find out how a mouse glue trap works and whether it is the right option for you.
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How Do Mice Glue Traps Work?
Mice glue traps are one of the simplest ways to catch mice. It requires minimal effort and there is no complicated setup nor do you need bait for mouse glue traps.
A glue trap is a piece of cardboard or plastic that is covered with a strong adhesive on one side. When a mouse walks over or falls on top of the glue trap it gets stuck and cannot escape.
Though commonly used to catch mice, those aren’t the only creatures that get stuck on the sticky surface. A mouse glue trap board will also capture any insects, rats, snakes and any other small animals that fall onto it or try to move over the glue trap.
Glue traps should be checked daily. Once a mouse or other critter gets stuck on the glue trap, it needs to be disposed of properly.
Note that glue traps do not necessarily kill what it catches. This means that you either need to release the pest where it won’t find its way back to your house or you need to kill the pest yourself.
How to Place Mouse Glue Traps
Placing mouse glue traps is easy. Simply place the board or plastic with the sticky side up in areas where mice are likely to pass.
You are most likely to find mice in areas where there are food sources or nesting material. Mice also like damp and dark spaces that are sheltered from humans and pets.
Spread the glue traps around the house in all places where you suspect mice. This gives you the best chance of figuring out their routes and hiding spaces.
If you already know where the mice scurry around, then try to place the glue traps in narrow spaces that the mice cannot avoid. Mice rarely swerve from their regular route so this is an effective way of catching mice.
It is better to place several glue traps on the same night than to alternate places on different nights. This is because mice are smart creatures and can learn to recognize that it poses a possible danger.
Also, once you have caught a mouse on a glue trap, it becomes more difficult to catch more. This is because mice release pheromones which can communicate to other mice that the glue traps are dangerous and should be avoided.
So, do mouse glue traps need bait? If placed strategically, the adhesive for mouse glue traps is enough to capture the critters.
If you are struggling to catch a mouse or the mouse keeps escaping the glue trap, try placing peanut butter as bait in the middle of the board.
Why Are Glue Traps Considered Inhumane?
The simplicity of glue traps is also its disadvantage. The glue used on mice glue traps is not poisonous but it does cause distress and possibly a slow death.
So, why do mice die on a glue trap when the glue is not poisonous? And how long does it take for mice to die on a glue trap?
There a few ways that a mouse can die because of a glue trap. None of these ways are quick nor painless.
When a mouse gets stuck on a glue trap it panics. The panic can cause the mouse to either get a heart attack or the more extreme alternative is that the mouse chews through its own body parts that are stuck so that it can still run away.
A mouse can also suffocate when its nostrils get stuck on the glue. The last way a mouse can die on a glue trap is from starvation after several days.
These distressing ways that a mouse can die one a glue trap is why it is important to check the glue traps daily and dispose of mouse glue traps appropriately. In this case, that means either releasing the creature or killing it swiftly.
How to Get a Mouse off a Glue Trap
It takes patience and care to free a living mouse from a glue trap but it is possible. What you need to release a mouse from a glue trap is vegetable oil, gloves, cotton swabs and a cloth that you don’t mind throwing away afterwards.
- Wear protective gloves. The gloves are a barrier to protect you from any viruses and bacteria the mouse might be carrying but also in case the mouse tries to bite.
- Pick up the mouse and glue board and place it inside a box. The box should let in enough air. The easiest option is an old shoe box without the lid.
- Place a piece of cloth or old dish towel over the head of the mouse. This keeps the mouse more calm.
- Soak the cotton swab in oil. Then, start rubbing away with the oily cotton swab at the mouse’s body parts that are stuck on the glue. This is a slow process because you need to be careful not to use too much oil and not to rip the skin of the mouse, either.
- Once the mouse is completely free, leave it in the box but remove the glue board. Wipe away any excess oil from the mouse. Cover the box with the dish towel so that it is dark and let the mouse rest.
- Contact the local wildlife rehabilitation services to ask them for the next best step.
If you think a glue trap is the way to go, we’ve reviewed a couple in our list of recommended traps.
Good luck!
