Searching for a way to rid your home of pesky mice or other rodents? We've rounded up the best mouse traps available, and one of the worst.
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A home hasn’t yet been invented that a mouse can’t find its way into. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as one-quarter of an inch, and they see our homes as bastions of comfortable temperatures and delicious snacks. Although you may think mice are cute, they can also destroy food, damage wiring and introduce disease to your home.
Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, it’s always a good idea to keep a mouse trap or two on hand so you can respond quickly when these rodents come around. With that in mind, here are eight great mouse traps, plus one to avoid!
For value, you can’t beat the classic spring-loaded Victor mouse trap. They’ve been making mouse traps for 120 years, and the same basic design still works.
At about 54 cents a trap (less if you buy in bulk), you can afford a bunch of them. In case of a mess you just throw the whole thing away, mouse and all.
Downsides are visibility (you’ll see all the gruesome details), pet/child safety (keep it away from curious paws or fingers) and ease of use. For those with arthritis or hand strength issues, these can be difficult to set.
Electric mouse traps zap the critter with a powerful electric charge, disrupting its heartbeat with up to 9,000 volts. We favor the Owltra Indoor Electric Mouse Trap.
One set of four AA batteries puts out enough charge to kill 60 mice. And unlike some other electric models, you can reuse this trap without buying additional parts.
The Owltra features a bait station with air vents at the rear. The aroma lures mice. Once inside, the mouse will pass two sets of infrared sensors before the trap triggers, preventing accidental discharge from a curious child or pet.
The downsides to this design? If you fail to remove a dead mouse promptly, the waste liquids can be tough to clean. And it’s not intended for outdoor use.
Like electric traps but need to eliminate mouse activity in a wet or damp environment? Owltra’s Outdoor/Indoor Rodent Trap is the best option we’ve found.
Notably, the designers did far more than slap a waterproof lid on their indoor model. The outdoor version offers more power and size to handle rats, chipmunks and other larger rodents as well as mice. It takes four D batteries rather than AAs, and can also be powered with a USB line.
Surprisingly, most mouse trap manufacturers don’t talk up how sensitive their products are. The only manufacturer we found who does is Feeke. It eagerly touts the quick trigger on its MO-1 mouse trap. It requires only 0.025 pounds of weight to activate it.
Don’t set it out around children or pets, of course. But if you’ve got a clever mouse who manages to clean the bait out of other traps, this is a great choice.
If you need to eliminate some mice but can’t stomach the aftereffects, consider the Kat Sense Tunnel Trap. It’s named for the two tunnel-like entrances on either side of its plastic shell. There’s a spring-loaded trap inside, entirely hidden from view. It’s easy to set and doesn’t require handling the dead mouse.
Downsides? If you’ve got children and pets, a finger or tiny paw might fit into the tunnel, so use with discretion. And it’s a single-use trap that costs more than $8.
A bucket mouse trap features a tiny access ramp and a trap door, dumping mice into a secure bucket. A great example is the Tulardum Bucket Mouse Trap. Like most bucket traps, the Tulardum kit consists of the ramp and cover; you provide the five-gallon bucket.
A bucket trap is always ready to go. Unlike a traditional spring-loaded trap that must be reset after each catch, after one mouse drops through the trap door, this trap is ready to catch another.
Putting oil or water in the bucket kills any mice that drop in. You could also leave it empty for humane catch and release.
