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2 Mistakes To Avoid When Using Mouse Traps

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After discovering that you have a few mice living in your kitchen, you may have put down a few traps in an attempt to get rid of them. However, although you have had the traps out for a few days or even weeks, you may not be having any success. If so, you may be making one of a couple of mistakes that could hinder your attempts to catch mice using mouse traps.

1.  Using Your Bare Hands to Set up the Traps

One mistake that you may be making that could be impeding your success at catching mice is using your bare hands when setting up the traps. As soon as you pick up the trap, bait it, and set it down, your scent is transferred to everything you touch. When the mice catch a whiff of you, they may be leery about approaching the traps, as they may see it as a sign of danger.

Before you ever open the package and pull out a trap, put on disposable gloves, and consider using a fresh pair for every trap. When you select and put on a pair of gloves, make sure that you handle the gloves by the openings so that your smell doesn't get on the fingers. This will help prevent you from getting your scent on the traps and deterring the mice from approaching the bait.

2.  Neglecting to Make the Mice Comfortable with the Bait

Another mistake you may be making is simply baiting the trap and setting it down without making the mice comfortable with the bait. Especially if you are placing the traps in locations that do not normally have food, the mice may be hesitant to approach the bait on the trap.

For a few days before you put down the traps, put small amounts of bait on the floor or shelves where you plan to put them. Then, after the mice get used to seeing food there, bait and set the traps.

Even if you have some success with catching mice in the traps, you may not be able to get all of the small rodents out of your house, especially if you have a large population of pests. Instead of trying to capture and kill the mice one at a time, you can contact a pest control company that provides mice control services and have them analyze the severity of the infestation. They will discuss the available options for taking care of it with you.


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