Do-it-yourself mousetraps: from a plastic bottle, jar or bucket of water. How to make a mousetrap from simple materials Do-it-yourself mousetrap from a jar

From the most common, but far from the most beloved household pest, the easiest way to get rid of a mousetrap: you can make it with your own hands from improvised means. Ease of operation, ease of manufacture, the ability to use unnecessary trash for noble purposes and high efficiency make it possible to classify homemade mousetraps as folk art.

How to catch a mouse in an apartment

Man is the king of nature. Therefore, with his "subordinates", he must cope easily and naturally. Especially if among the latter there are small and dangerous rodents. They may not eat so much, but through them the most severe diseases spread.

A cat knows best how to catch a mouse in an apartment. But she does not share her secrets, and besides, the cats are poorly controlled, and not very constant. That is why do-it-yourself mouse traps can give odds to any mustachioed-striped predator.

Of course, a mousetrap can be purchased at the store. But for a resident of Russia, the very idea of ​​buying such a simple thing comes to mind only with a complete loss of creative abilities or after being included in the Forbes list.

Important:

The mouse is a cautious but stupid animal. Don't think of him as a wise scout who can bypass disguised traps. Rodents live by instincts and this is their weak spot.

Homemade mousetraps get an advantage if they are loaded with the right bait.

Mousetrap Lures

The mouse has very poor eyesight, but its sense of smell is simply phenomenal! The physiology of mice has evolved in such a way that the number of neurons in its olfactory bulb is constantly increasing throughout life. This happens due to migration from the subependymal zone of the ventricles of the brain.

The mouse is very well versed in smells, knows how to identify them and has a clear gradation in terms of their attractiveness. In critical conditions, the mouse can eat candles and soap. If you have a choice, the attractiveness of the baits should be arranged in the following sequence:

  • Sunflower seeds;
  • Nuts (including peanuts);
  • Meat (lard);
  • Bread;
  • Chocolate;

If you wish, you can experiment with baits. To do this, you will need to make do-it-yourself mouse traps of the same design that use different products. After each successful operation, it is necessary to note which bait attracted the rodent.

In a couple of weeks, you will have a systematic catalog of lures.

ADVICE: baits can be combined to enhance their appeal.

Why you should make your own mousetrap

The design of homemade mousetraps is so simple that the process of making them is more like creative work. It is not as exciting as sculpture or painting, and it is very difficult to imagine yourself in the place of Rembrandt or Michelangelo. But to become like Kalashnikov or Manerheim is very easy.

The most attractive thing about making mousetraps with your own hands is the opportunity to experiment, making improvements to classic designs. At the same time, even if the change did not bring the expected effect, a catastrophe with human casualties will not happen in any case.

A mousetrap is not a plane or a submarine! Experiments are welcome.

DIY mouse traps: materials and principle of operation

You can even make a mousetrap with your own hands from the garbage that is thrown away. It just takes a little ingenuity and creativity.

Too lazy to make a mousetrap yourself?

Read our review of the best ultrasonic mouse and rat repellers. Rating of the five best models with owner reviews.

Most models of homemade mousetraps use the same principles and techniques. Depending on how to make a mouse trap, according to the principle of operation of most models, they should be divided into two categories:

  1. Gravity;
  2. Spring.

In the first case, the triggering of the trap occurs due to a change in the stability of the system, after the rodent enters the control zone (example No. 3) or its activity in the prepared place (example No. 1 and 4).

Spring models use the energy of elasticity of the working fluid (example No. 3). Moreover, the spring, in this context, the collective name. A lever with a counterweight can also act as an accumulator of elasticity energy.

The homemade mousetrap models described below show both types of construction.

DIY mousetrap from a plastic bottle

A DIY mousetrap made from a plastic bottle is extremely simple and effective. And most importantly - absolutely free.

For its manufacture, a PET bottle with a volume of more than 2 liters is required. A smaller capacity can make it difficult to trigger the trap, due to too little room for the victim to maneuver.

Step 1

The bottle is cut into two unequal parts. The height of the lower part is ⅓, and the height of the upper part is ⅔ of the total length.

In the lower part, at a distance of 4-5 cm from the bottom, a round hole is cut out, with a diameter of a 5-ruble coin.

Step 2

Opposite the entrance, with the help of a wire, a puncture is made.

Step 3

From the wire we bend the L-shaped gatehouse.

Step 4

We put the bait on the gatehouse.

Step 5

We insert the guard with bait into the puncture and lower the upper part of the bottle inside.

Step 6

The baited wire is pushed inside the bottle so that the smallest tip sticks out.

The operation of a mousetrap from a plastic bottle occurs if the mouse, having climbed through the hole inside the trap, becomes interested in the bait and starts to pull it. The holding tip of the wire will move, and the top of the bottle will drop down, blocking the exit of the rodent.

TIP: Do not screw the cap on the bottle all the way. In this case, the movable part of the bottle will fall faster due to the lack of compression effect. But you can't remove the cover completely. Since the animal locked inside can dump the bottle and get out through the neck.

We make a mousetrap from a plastic bottle according to the video

How to make a mouse trap out of a jar

For this trap, you only need a glass jar with a capacity of 3 liters or more, and a special bait. A mousetrap from a jar will function flawlessly precisely when using a certain filler - husks (husks from sunflower seeds).

In a practical sense, you don't have to do anything. It is necessary to fill the jar with a husk with a layer of 3-5 cm and put a plank to the neck, along which the rodent can quickly get to the source of the smell.

Once inside the jar, the mouse can no longer get out. And it is the husk that helps to keep it there!

Mice jump high enough. But for a good jump, you need a powerful push from a solid foundation. The layer of seed husk is very loose and mobile. It is impossible not only to push off from it, it is not even possible to stand on it. The rodent, at the slightest movement, will fail.

This design has its advantages:

  1. The husk does not spoil;
  2. Mice don't eat it;
  3. The product does not require cocking and can function without maintenance for some time (the duration depends on the abundance of rodents);
  4. Performance is maintained even at low temperatures.

A trap from a can is convenient to use in the cellar.

Homemade mouse trap from a bucket of water

The design of the water bucket mousetrap stands out from all other models in that it can be left without maintenance for several months. And with a small upgrade, it will function even during severe winter frosts.

The main part of this trap is a wire frame with a movable plastic panel ladder that rotates easily inside the structure.

The dimensions of the frame will depend on the diameter of the bucket. So:

Step 1

Bend an elongated U-shaped frame 5 cm wide from aluminum wire, the length of which will be 12-15 cm longer than the diameter of the bucket. The closed end of the frame, bend at an angle of 90˚. It will fix the design.

Step 2

Make a circular loop with each of the open ends of the frame around the nail. The holding loops should be approximately in the middle of the wire stock.

Step 3

Cut a small piece of material from a plastic panel with a construction knife, so that its width is 1 cm narrower than the wire frame clearance. Stepping back 1-1.5 cm from the middle, drill (or pierce with a heated nail) a through hole in the plastic ladder.

Step 4

Insert a nail into the hole, passing it through the wire loops.

Step 5

On the open ends of the frame, put a plastic lid from the jar. It will contain bait. Pour water into a bucket, 3-5 cm layer and place a wire frame on top.

The water bucket trap is ready to go.

For efficiency, put a small plank against the bucket so that the mouse can reach the frame from the right side. Moving along the plastic ladder from the board to the source of aroma, the mouse reaches the axis of rotation. As soon as she overcomes it, the center of mass shifts, and the rodent falls into the bucket.

It is convenient to leave such a mousetrap for the whole winter inside a country house. But it needs a little upgrade! Instead of water, you need to pour oil. It does not freeze in the most severe frosts and the mice will not be able to jump out.

TIP: oil can be any, provided that its smell does not interrupt the aroma of the bait. Ideally, it is good to fill the bucket with spent vegetable oil, which was used for deep-frying.

Wooden do-it-yourself mousetrap

This do-it-yourself wooden mousetrap takes only 15-20 minutes, but this model is the most complex. In it, you can install several traps at once, which will be located on one bar.

Step 4

A ring with an eyelet is made of iron wire, with a diameter of ≈ 3 cm. From an elastic steel wire, twist a three-turn spring. The free ends of the spring should be 8-10 cm long.

Step 5

From an elastic steel wire, twist a three-turn spring. The free ends of the spring should be 8-10 cm long. Opposite the eye, a harsh thread is tied to the ring. For ease of use, thread the free end of the thread into a shoe (gypsy) needle.

Step 6

The thread is sequentially threaded first into the first hole (through the cut). Then from below into the second hole and the free end is fixed with a stretch by the peg. Please note that the ring should plunge into the cut, so as not to reduce the clearance of the "mink".

More about homemade mousetraps

The models of traps given in the description are extremely primitive and easy to manufacture. But this does not reduce their effectiveness.

If you have the skill of working with a soldering iron, and you are well versed in electrical circuits, then you can make an electric mousetrap with a laser guard. True, it will be extremely inconvenient to use such a miracle, because this product has a place at the exhibition.

Not infrequently, such unfriendly neighbors as mice start up in people's houses. Of course, the first thing that comes to the mind of an ordinary person is to get rid of an unwanted guest who harms property and products. Someone will consider it necessary to buy a ready-made mousetrap, because. does not see anything complicated in this, but someone cannot afford it for other reasons.

Benefits of using homemade traps

One of the most attractive advantages of these mousetraps is the price. You can easily acquire such a trap with the help of improvised means, or not as costly as in the case of a store-bought one.

Rodents are quite intelligent creatures, so some of them quickly cut through the chip of ordinary mousetraps and the degree of their danger, even despite the temptation of the bait.


One more advantage can be distinguished - this is humanity, because store mousetraps were originally invented for the complete extermination of pests, because. various toxic substances are added to them.

While home-made ones are much less likely to lead to the death of a rodent. They are safer than store-bought ones, an especially useful advantage if small children or pets live in the house.

Varieties of homemade mousetraps

Can and paper trap

A piece of writing paper is wrapped around the neck of the jar, which must necessarily be wide in order to surely protect the rodent from getting out of the situation, which creates a visual illusion. Above the jar, or rather paper, the selected bait is placed. If the mouse bites on the bait, then it will definitely try to get to it, leaning on the paper with its hind legs, thereby falling into the jar.

Mousetrap from jar and lid

The jar, also with a wide neck, is closed with a tin lid. A hole is cut in the center of this lid so that the mouse can get in. And the teeth that will prevent the mouse from getting out into the wild are bent inside the jar. As a rule, bait is placed at the bottom of the jar. For this mousetrap, it is recommended to choose a special bait, this is necessary so that the smell lures the prey into the jar. Such bait can be smoked sausage, ordinary seeds, as well as wheat grains.

Mousetrap with bucket and plastic bottle

For large-scale catching mice, you can make the following trap. Add water, if desired, if mice are to be killed. For manufacturing, stock up on tools such as a bucket, a long knitting needle, or another hard twig, a plastic bottle and bait, of course, as well as adhesive tape. A needle is inserted along the bottle, in the center of the upper and lower parts. This is done in order to ensure the movement of the bottle without interference. The bottle is in the middle relative to the edges of the spoke. Now you need adhesive tape, which you need to fix the bait around the perimeter of the bottle. Scotch tape should be used in moderation so as not to interrupt the smell of the bait. A needle with a bottle is placed on the edges of the bucket.


If the plans were to catch a lot of mice, then it is worth making holes along the edges of the bucket to thread the edges of the knitting needle so that they do not break the prepared structure. The spoke should rotate freely. Next, a couple of rails are fixed on both sides of the bucket to organize a path for the mouse to the bait bottle.

Mousetrap using gravity

Here again, a plastic bottle comes into use, but by the method of gravity.


Mousetrap with bait in the form of a support

Suitable for any cup, bowl, deep plate. Everything is very simple here, the container is fixed so that it is located on weight, for support, a bait is placed under it.

Mousetrap from a plastic bottle

First, the bottle is cut in half into 2/3 parts, as a result, you get the neck of the bottle and the second half of the bottle. Then it all comes together. The smaller half of the bottle is fastened with tape or wire with the neck down into the larger one. For attractiveness, the neck of the bottle is lubricated with oil, the bottom is strewn with seeds or bread crumbs.

Important! due to the light weight, the bottle can easily fall, so it would be more correct to mount it on any of the surfaces.

Bucket mousetrap

This method is also suitable for mass catching mice. A wire is taken, this wire is attached along the bucket, a bottle is put on the wire. The bait is placed on top of the bottle. The path to the bucket can be constructed using a plank so that the mouse can reach the bottle. The bucket is filled halfway with water. Subsequently, the mouse is led to the bait, making its way along the boards to the bottle, which will have to turn over, in a rotating motion.

Mousetrap from a glass jar

The jar is placed on its side, the bait is placed on double-sided tape, all this is installed on the bottom of the jar. For support, a 5 ruble coin is used, which is placed on the edge. As a result, the mouse should hit the jar, and it will turn over, blocking the exit to the outside. Ready.

Glue mousetraps

To begin with, respectively, glue is purchased that is specially designed for rodents and insects. Next, a cardboard product is taken, other similar stationery is also suitable. Glue is applied in strips.


Wooden mousetrap

In a bar, with parameters 180x100x60 mm, holes are drilled with a diameter of 3 cm and a depth of 6 cm, this is done for an entrance intended for mice. The loop of wire should secure the noose from another wire, which will be smaller than the first. Holes are also drilled to install the springs.

The number of loops, nooses and springs is equal to the number of holes. The rope is taken to fasten the spring ready for action. The bait is placed in the holes. So rodents, trying to get to the bait, hit the rope with their teeth. The rope, in turn, contributes to the reaction of the spring and the noose.

Each method that has been discussed in this article is well suited in its own way for effective catching mice. It remains to make sure that you have the necessary funds and get down to business.

Neighborhood with rodents is fraught with the development of many problems. Mice ruthlessly spoil food, gnaw furniture. And they consider wiring a special delicacy. Gnawing wires, often provoke fires in the house. In addition, mice are carriers of many infectious diseases that are dangerous for both humans and pets. Therefore, when you notice the first rodents or their droppings, immediately start fighting.

Advantages of homemade traps

When the house is attacked by rodents, there is a desire to deal with them as soon as possible. For this purpose, many poisonous chemicals, scare devices or newfangled mousetraps have been developed. However, do not rush to acquire such funds. As practice has shown, an effective trap can be made within a few minutes. Such a device has four advantages in comparison with purchased means.

  1. Does not contain toxic substances. Chemicals are inherently poisons. They are toxic not only to rodents. Poisonous substances can cause intoxication in humans or pets. Self-made mousetraps, for which you use cardboard or bottles, will not harm you or your pets.
  2. No need to leave the house. Since you do not use poisons, there is no need to transport children to grandmothers, and beloved pets to friends.
  3. The house is not threatened by unsanitary conditions. Another disadvantage of toxic substances lies in the inability to control the death of rodents. A poisoned mouse can climb into a hole and die there. Now imagine if it is not one rodent, but several at once. To eliminate the smell, you will have to break the walls, provided that you know where the hole is. A mousetrap allows you to avoid this fate. You will always see a caught rodent.
  4. Saving . Having decided to fight with mousetraps, you will note with chagrin that effective means are not cheap. And to eliminate rodents, you will need at least a few traps. Homemade designs will help protect the budget.

Another advantage of homemade traps is the possibility of reusable use. If you master the technology of creating a mousetrap, you can use it at any time. There will be no need to waste energy searching for a once-acquired complex structure.

Lures

No matter how original your trap is, you need to get the mice to fall into it. Need bait. When it comes to rodents, a piece of cheese immediately comes to mind. This seems obvious. However, your "tenants" may not bite on hard cheese. The following products are recognized as the most effective baits:

  • sunflower seeds;
  • a piece of bread dipped in sunflower oil;
  • smoked sausage;
  • fresh or fried lard;
  • Sesame oil.

Device options

Human ingenuity has no limits. Look around. You are surrounded by many objects that can serve as the basis for the manufacture of an effective trap. So, arm yourself with improvised tools, tools and start tinkering using the following seven ideas.

With an elastic band for bills

Peculiarities. The made mousetrap will allow to catch only one rodent. Place the device near the intended hole. The animal is attracted by the scent of the bait. He runs into the bottle, pulls the fixed food. The paper clip slides easily through the hole. The thread flies off the straight end. The neck of the bottle, no longer held by anything, slams shut. The mouse is trapped.

Materials:

  • a 2 liter plastic bottle with a cap (it is better to take a square one) - one;
  • rubber band for money - two;
  • thin stick - two;
  • strong thread - 30-40 cm long;
  • bait - one;
  • metal clip - one.

What to do

  1. Step back from the neck about 15-20 cm (by a third), make an incision with a sharp knife, moving in the transverse direction.
  2. Don't cut all the way through, leave one of the four sides intact if your bottle is square. You should get a "chest" with a folding top-neck.
  3. Lay the workpiece so that the uncut side is on top.
  4. Heat the awl over the fire.
  5. Make through holes with it in the cone-shaped blank at the bottom, stepping back from the cut by 5-7 cm.
  6. Insert one of the sticks into the holes obtained.
  7. Repeat the procedure for making holes in the larger workpiece, stepping back from the first holes by the length of the elastic band.
  8. Insert the second stick into these holes.
  9. On one and the other side of the bottle, put rubber bands on the ends of the sticks.
  10. Now take a strong thread, tie it at one end to the neck of the bottle.
  11. Be sure to tighten the neck with a lid, otherwise your "captive" will easily crawl out through the hole.
  12. If you did everything right, then by pulling the thread, you can open your “chest”.
  13. Unfold the metal paperclip.
  14. Make a ring from one part, put the bait in it, fix it tightly.
  15. Leave the other end of the paperclip straight.
  16. Poke another hole in the base of the bottle with a hot awl.
  17. Insert a paper clip into this hole so that the bait is inside the bottle, and the straight end comes out.
  18. Tie the free end of the thread to it.
  19. Pull the rope so that the neck of the bottle opens 90º.

Nail and thread

Peculiarities. The mouse, attracted by the bait, will sneak into the bottle. She, under the force of gravity, will tip over, but will not fall to the floor, but will hang in the air along with the captive.

Materials:

  • plastic bottle (1.5 l or 2 l) - one;
  • nail - one;
  • thread - 20-30 cm long;
  • bait is one.

What to do:

  1. Cut off the neck of a plastic bottle.
  2. Step back from the cut 1-2 cm, make a hole with a hot awl.
  3. Thread the end of the thread through this hole, tie it tightly.
  4. In the bottle, at the very end, put the bait.
  5. Install a homemade mousetrap on the table so that the part of the bottle (the one in which the bait lies) remains on the weight.
  6. Tie the other end of the thread to a fixed nail.

Only plastic bottle

Peculiarities. The mousetrap must be placed near the hole. The mouse will easily get inside the bottle. And sharp teeth will prevent her from climbing back.

Materials:

  • plastic bottle - one;
  • bait is one.

What to do

  1. Cut off the neck of a plastic bottle. You will need the part that has the bottom left.
  2. Finish the cut edge in a zigzag pattern.
  3. Try to make long "petals".
  4. Bend the sharp edges inside the bottle.
  5. Put the bait in the middle.

Bucket with water

Peculiarities. Such a trap will allow you to catch not one, but several rodents. But you can't call her humane. The mouse falls into a bucket of water and dies. Place the structure near the proposed hole. The mouse will smell the bait, rush to it, easily climb the "slide". But, stepping on a freely rotating bottle, he will lose his balance, fall into a bucket of water.

Materials:

  • a large bucket - one;
  • metal knitting needle - one;
  • plastic bottle or tin - one;
  • board - two;
  • scotch;
  • bait.

What to do

  1. Pour water into the bucket, filling a third or half of the volume.
  2. Pierce a jar or bottle with a knitting needle along.
  3. Slightly develop holes so that the bottle rotates easily on the spoke.
  4. Tape the bait to the plastic container using tape.
  5. Put the needle on the bucket.
  6. On both sides, attach boards to the bucket, building "slides".

from wood

Peculiarities. Rodents, attracted by aromatic food, will try to climb into the hole. But the thread will block their way. The mouse will gnaw through it to reach the bait. As soon as the thread loosens, the spring will work, the trap will slam shut, firmly fixing the rodent.

Materials:

  • a block of wood - 120 × 90 mm, 40 mm high;
  • drill;
  • wire;
  • threads;
  • bait.

What to do

  1. Initially, sketch out the diagram, marking the centers of the trapping holes.
  2. Mark the bar.
  3. Using a drill (30 mm), make blind holes, 75-80 mm long, into three cells at once.
  4. Make a wire loop that will allow you to attach a noose to the mousetrap.
  5. Now drill some holes to secure the springs and hinges.
  6. The thread will be needed in order to tie the spring.
  7. It is very easy to charge such a trap. You just need to lay the bait inside the blind holes.

Electrical

Peculiarities. Never touch the iron surfaces before turning off the power. And if you are not an expert in electronics, then it is better to use other, safer methods of dealing with rodents.

Materials:

  • metal platform;
  • wires;
  • peanut butter as bait.

What to do

  1. Connect one contact to a metal platform on which the rodent will run.
  2. Raise the other contact above the platform.
  3. Brush this edge generously with peanut butter.
  4. Connect the plug to the end of the wire, which you plug into the network.

Adhesive

Peculiarities. This is one of the most brutal methods of dealing with mice. It is accompanied by squeaks and screams of animals trying to escape. Therefore, try not to leave for a long time in order to have time to unstick the rodent, which you will then release in the forest, away from home.

Materials:

  • cardboard (or plywood) - a small sheet;
  • glue (purchase in a specialized store);
  • bait.

What to do

  1. Apply a layer of glue to the surface of the cardboard.
  2. Put the bait in the center.
  3. Place a sticky trap near the hole.

Preventive actions

To say goodbye to rodents forever, you need to reconsider your habits, introduce new rules into your life. Ignoring preventive measures will lead to the reappearance of mice in your apartment. To protect against the invasion of rodents, very simple recommendations allow:

  • stocks - store cereals, sugar in special containers, and preferably in glass containers;
  • aromas - in cabinets on the shelves lay out onion peel, pieces of garlic, laurel leaves that can repel mice;
  • audit - regularly inspect stocks for the presence of various pests and black lumps that characterize the appearance of uninvited guests;
  • garbage collection - regularly take out waste from the house, and always close the bin with a lid;
  • “Friends” - get a cat in the house, and if you live in a private house, then hang a birdhouse that attracts birds of prey that feed on rodents to your site.

Rodents do not like order, they bypass those houses in which there is no trash, and food remains do not remain on the tables. Therefore, in order not to wage a cruel and merciless war, regularly clean your house.

With the onset of autumn, mice begin to search for warm places for wintering, sometimes overcoming quite long distances. And if in natural conditions animals feed on nuts, seeds or insect larvae, then when they enter a residential building, they become omnivorous, tasting stocks in the pantry, food leftovers in the trash can, and even such inedible things as candles or soap. When rodents enter a human home, getting rid of them can be quite problematic.

Harm from mice to humans

Mice in a relatively short time can cause serious damage to stored vegetables and fruits, spoil cereals and pasta. Pests gnaw wires, arrange nests in various places and carry dangerous infections. The diseases they cause include:

  • leptospirosis,
  • hemorrhagic fever,
  • tularemia
  • pseudotuberculosis,
  • salmonellosis,
  • helminthiasis.

These diseases can be transmitted:

Pests are incredibly prolific - they can bring the first offspring as early as the eighth week after their birth, and replenish the population five to ten times each year. On average, an individual lives for about a year in natural conditions. It is surprising that rodents have not yet flooded the entire planet with such indicators. This does not happen just because the total number of mice is regulated by both natural (natural) factors and human intervention.

How to catch a mouse

It is easier to deal with a pest when you know what it is.

Table: distinguishing features of mice

An average-sized animal can easily seep into a round gap about a centimeter in diameter and jump in length in an extreme situation up to one meter.

The fight against domestic rodents includes the use of spring mousetraps, glue traps, various kinds of repellers, poisoned baits. At the same time, people have to change tactics all the time, inventing new devices. Live traps are the most humane means of getting rid of rodents and they are quite easy to make with your own hands from improvised materials.

Humane plastic bottle mouse trap

To make such a trap, you will need a plastic bottle, a rope, a heavy object and bait. The rope must be tied to the neck.
The rope must be long enough

We put the bait in the bottle. Mice are most attracted to foods with a strong scent, but scented chemical additives will likely not work.
It is better to use natural products as bait

The bottle should be placed on the edge of a table or other surface. We fix the end of the rope with a heavy object.
Homemade mouse trap installed and ready to go

Live trap from a can with a coin

The manufacture of this mousetrap requires an empty glass jar, coins and bait. Installation takes just a few seconds.
A coin trap is the simplest but very effective way to catch small rodents.

Fix the bait on the inner wall of the jar. Set up the trap as shown in the photo below.
This live trap may require concentration to install

Catching pests with a bucket and ruler

You can catch a boring mouse by using a plastic bucket. To prevent the rodent from jumping out of the container, apply a little vegetable oil to the bottom and walls.
Any sufficiently deep plastic bucket is suitable for catching mice.

The next step is to install a ruler with a bait on the edge of the table. Here it is important to properly balance the mechanism.


The installed ruler with the bait must support the weight of the mouse until the latter gets close to the fragrant piece

Place the bucket exactly in the center of the bait and go about your business with peace of mind. The captured rodent will not be harmed.
A live trap using a bucket and a ruler is installed and configured

Mousetrap from a jar and thick paper

To make the next trap, you need a glass jar, a sheet of thick paper, a rope, a knife and a piece of something tasty.
Cheese, of course, will do, but the mice do not like it too much, oddly enough

We put cheese in a container, cover it with paper and twist it with a rope in the same way as jam jars are corked.
It is advisable to tighten the neck of the container more tightly

Cut the paper on top with a cross with a knife. The corners should be sunk a little deeper.
Using a sharp knife, cut the paper in a cross

Set the trap where the pests are most active. Don't forget to check it from time to time.
Live traps should be checked more often, as a caught pest can escape with some effort.

Another live trap from a plastic bottle

Get an empty plastic bottle. Cut it with a knife along about a third of the total length. Be careful, plastic can slide on the surface.
When working with a knife, be careful not to cut yourself.

Turn the cut part over and fix it with clothespins, paper clips or, for example, hairpins.
The process of making such a live trap will not take much time.

It remains to put goodies in the live trap, put it in the places where mice are active and provide convenience for access.
So that mice can get access to free cheese, we again apply the ruler

barbed mousetrap

To make a trap, you will need the bottom of a plastic bottle cut in half and a knife (or scissors).
The lower half of the plastic container is a live trap blank

Further, being careful, it is necessary to cut out pointed elements with a length approximately equal to half the diameter of the container.
The step width of each element does not play a big role

It remains to put a fragrant piece of banana into the product to lure pests, bend the cutouts inward and wish yourself a successful hunt.
The mousetrap should be installed in places of increased activity of rodents, so the chances of success increase significantly

Video: how to catch a mouse without harming it

How to lure a rodent

Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not the perfect bait for catching mice. Of course, animals will not refuse a piece of fresh product, but if they have a choice, they will prefer seeds or smoked bacon to it.

Table: which products are suitable as bait

SaloMice love it. Use fresh, non-rancid product. A stale bacon with a small degree of probability will be of interest to animals.
Sunflower oilAn unrefined fragrant product is best suited for bait. Drip oil on the bread crust, this will attract pests even more.
Bread and grainsEveryone loves fresh baked goods, and mice are no exception. Cereals and bran are somewhat smaller, but also loved by these animals. Wetting a piece of baking with sunflower oil will enhance the effect.
FishRodents love fish, and most of all cold smoked seafood. Such bait must be fresh, mice acutely smell stale fish and will not go for it.
sausagesThe option only works if the product is made from natural ingredients. The presence of flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives and other chemicals will not attract pests.
CheeseOrdinary cheese is not suitable for bait, use smoked sausage. Again, the presence of chemical components in the latter will not help in catching uninvited guests.

To catch mice even more effectively, it's important to know what rodents don't like. Dried cheese, apples, chocolate, and dry bread crusts will most likely not work.

You should not trap any products with the presence of preservatives, flavors or flavor enhancers in their composition.

Where is the best place to set traps?

The fight against rodents indoors with the help of live traps also implies the correct installation of the latter. To do this, first of all, you need to understand where mice appear, how and when they feed and move.

Did you know that mice really like sunflower oil, smoked bacon and seeds. They are nocturnal animals with very fast metabolic processes of the body, so during the dark time of the day they can go out in search of food up to thirty times. It is very easy to notice that mice were in charge of the house, the animals always leave oblong black litter about one centimeter long.


Mouse droppings reach a length of 0.5-1 cm

As a rule, these animals do not travel long distances in search of food, and usually the animals leave the nest only ten to twenty meters.

Based on this, live traps should be placed along the expected routes of movement of pests, and where they appear most often. It should be noted that mice often move closer to walls and other objects, while being quite inquisitive creatures, they can explore any object in their path.

Mice live in residential buildings, cafes and shops all year round, but they become especially noticeable with the approach of cold weather. Species that live close to humans, but not side by side with them, may migrate closer to warmth and a source of easily obtained food.

Mice cause more damage to the human economy than rats. Although the latter are less acceptable to people, they are less likely to live directly in the residential area, preferring to be in places of collection and disposal of waste. In addition, mice can breed up to ten times a year. Most often, they interfere with people not by eating a lot, but by their omnivorous nature. Mice gnaw on food, but do not finish it, after which the product has to be thrown away. They gnaw holes in clothes and furniture, build passages for themselves through partitions and walls, leave litter everywhere. Mice are especially dangerous for electrical wiring. They can try to gnaw through it, expose the wires and close them with themselves, after which fires sometimes occur. Mice are carriers of salmonellosis and other intestinal and inflammatory infections.

How to catch a mouse

To trap a mouse in an apartment, you need to understand where and from where the rodent appears.

Unlike rats, mice look for food only at a distance of 10-25 meters from their habitat. Traps should be placed where mice are most likely to appear. Mice prefer to travel along walls and other vertical structures. Mice are very inquisitive and explore every new item placed in their feeding territory. If the mouse is not immediately caught, the device can be moved to another place, writes Michael F. Potter, an expert from the Agricultural College of the University of Kentucky.

Mice eat grains and seeds, nuts, oil, and sweets. Mice are nocturnal animals, and during the dark time of the day they are able to go out in search of food up to 30 times. Behind them they leave a black oblong dropping 0.3-1.2 cm long, due to which their recent appearance is easily disavowed.

But before proceeding with the arrangement, it is better to first spend time preventing the appearance of rodents in unwanted places. Cracks and holes over a quarter of an inch wide must be patched. Weak points: holes for water pipes in the wall and a gap under the door. To make the room less attractive, you need to keep it clean: remove food debris. After that, the basic measures, if necessary, can be supplemented by the arrangement of special means from mice.

Which is better: bullying, scaring or catching?

Mice are fought in four main ways:

  • poisonous baits - rodenticides;
  • ultrasonic rodent repellers;
  • mousetraps (killer and live traps);
  • sticky traps.

They are located as close as possible to the habitat of the mouse.

Rodenticides most often created on the basis of seeds or grains. They are sold in pharmacies and contain brodifacoum, chlorophacinone, diphacinone or warfarin as active ingredients. These substances prevent blood clotting, which is why the animal dies from internal blood loss. Carefully: Keep these anti-mouse products away from children and pets.

Ultrasonic repellers act humanely for animals and are safe for you. Some models, like the budget domestic "ElectroKot Turbo", in addition to ultrasound, also affect rodents with the help of sound signals and flashes of light. This combination is much more effective - the mice will definitely not have the desire to stay next to such an aggressive stimulus. In the early days of using the repeller, you may notice even more rodents than before - but this is normal. The fact is that the sudden appearance of ultrasound causes panic in rodents - as a result of which abnormal daily activity and chaotic rushes around the house may appear. As a rule, within two weeks the rodents will leave.

When there are few mice in the house, it is worth trying to catch them in mousetraps. These traps should also be kept away from pets and children. The mousetrap has an undeniable advantage over poisonous bait. The mouse will be immediately removed from the house, while the poisoned and dead mouse will remain lying somewhere, for example, in the cavity of the wall and floor and exude an unpleasant odor. Traps are placed along the walls where mice or traces of their vital activity were seen. The trap rotates perpendicular to the wall, but some instructions recommend placing it parallel. In addition to the murderous ones, there are also live traps, which allow the captured mouse to be released without harming it.

sticky traps also effective against mice, unlike heavier and stronger rats. Running along a familiar path, the mouse suddenly finds itself on a sticky surface, from which it can no longer escape. If the trap accidentally sticks to a person or pet, it can be removed with vegetable oil.

All traps should be checked daily for dead mice. Perform all work with gloves.

Which mousetrap is better? How They Work: An Overview of Trap Types

There are only four types of mouse traps hiding behind a large number of designs and manufacturers, and we will now analyze them.

Ordinary mousetraps. The simplest and most familiar type of trap to us from childhood or from cartoons. The cheapest is the classic wooden mousetrap with an iron bracket. A bait is pricked on the “fishing rod”, to which the mouse comes. As soon as she tries to take the food with her, the bracket will slam shut and squeeze her. The mechanism is quite strong and can kill an animal or injure a person who carelessly handled it.

In addition to wooden ones, plastic and metal ones are now being produced, which can look significantly different from the classic model, but retain the same principle.

"Live" traps. This trap does not kill the rodent but only keeps it in a small enclosure. Suitable for those for whom the killing of an animal, even a pest, is unacceptable. The captured mouse is simply released away from home. In addition, it can be shown to children in this way and taught them humanism by their own example.

Glue traps for mice. Effectively solve the problem: how to catch a mouse without a mousetrap. They are boards, trays or slats with glue. They effectively trap mice, although they are unlikely to keep rats for long. Their disadvantage is in action. A mouse that has fallen on the glue, trying to get out, starts to twitch and squeak violently, creating noise. The glue is non-toxic and will not kill a rodent, but if a mouse gets trapped at night, you will have to get up and do something about it, because it will be difficult to fall asleep under the squeak.

Electronic traps for mice. The most effective trap was invented relatively recently. The advantages of an electronic device are obvious: a mouse or a rat runs into the trap in search of food and receives a current discharge, dying quickly and painlessly. Perfectly solves the problem: how to catch a mouse in a house without blood and mess. In addition, electronic traps are convenient and practical for large premises and food warehouses, as they can be used without recharging for a long time.

Type of mousetrap Advantages disadvantages
common mousetrap very cheap does not kill quickly
"Live" trap (live trap)
cheap and don't kill you need to take away and release the mouse
glue trap cheap the mouse can squeak and swarm for several days
kill quickly with an electric discharge, without blood or dirt, the charge is enough for a hundred electric shocks expensive, do not use outdoors without special protection against water

What is the difference between mouse and rat traps?

Rats are heavier, stronger and smarter than mice. Therefore, ordinary or sticky traps that are suitable for catching mice are not suitable for them. They can work together to steal bait from a mechanical trap.

Glue traps can trap mice or young rats. Mature rodents from among the latter will be able to get out of it within one or two hours.

At the same time, if there are no problems with rats in a small apartment, and mice are wound up, it makes no sense to buy an expensive electronic trap, which undoubtedly has important advantages (we will talk about them below), but is designed for long-term use with a large number of charges and not particularly needed where you want to catch 2-3 rodents.

Mousetrap bait or how to lure a mouse

Domestic rodents prefer grains and cereals, as well as nuts. But scientists from the University of Kentucky note the diversity of the diet of domestic rodents, in which cereals are only the basis:

Mice eat a variety of foods, but prefer seeds and grains. They also love foods that are high in fat and protein, such as nuts, bacon, butter, and sweets (an important point to remember when choosing bait to rig the trap). Mice can make 20-30 sorties per night.

A popular bait among mousetrap users is peanut butter bait, which is convenient to use due to its consistency, making small balls or smearing it on the sensory surface of the mousetrap. Contrary to popular myth, they are not crazy about cheese and eat it on par with other foods. So cheese is not always a good bait.

As Michael F. Potter mentioned above joked, you have to think like a mouse. Better use smoked lard or bacon. In addition to peanut butter, unrefined sunflower oil is suitable. They can moisten a piece of white bread. Or just put roasted sunflower seeds or peanut kernels in a mousetrap.

Top 6 Mouse Traps

Steel mousetrap "FIT"

The most classic version of a mousetrap: a wooden base with a durable steel mechanism. It has maximum sensitivity, which makes it impossible to steal the bait - it slams shut instantly! It is these traps that are most popular among the people: they are cheap (2 FIT traps cost only 69 rubles) and always work flawlessly.

But they also have their obvious disadvantages. So, this is not the fastest and most sparing option for killing: the mouse may not die immediately, but suffer from pain for several hours. Also, the tree absorbs the smell of dead animals, so after a while the mice will understand the catch and will not climb into it anymore - it will have to be changed to another one. But such devices are so budgetary that buying a new one is not a problem. The main thing is that they work and have been tested by millions of people.

Plastic mousetrap "Mr.Mouse".

Another variation of the classic mousetrap with an improved design of the bait spot. It is made of plastic, which does not get dirty, unlike wood, and does not absorb odors. Therefore, the mousetrap can be used many times without fear that it will start to smell like dead rodents. It is also safer than steel traps, because. works on the principle of a large clothespin - your fingers will be intact. Contrary to popular belief, mice don't like cheese that much, so use seeds, peanuts, chocolate, or dry pet food as bait. Users write -

Mr. Mouse is very easy to use, pulling out mice is extremely easy, and it's not scary that you leave your fingers there - I recommend it to everyone.

Price - about 80 rubles.

Glue trap “Gryzunoff”

A simple and inexpensive option for those who need to catch a small number of rodents. According to the manufacturer, the trap is designed to catch gray and black rats, house mice, gerbils, bank voles and moles. The sticky base is non-toxic and, in addition to glue, contains rosin, rubber and mineral oils. But it is more likely just for mice - such a surface is unlikely to hold large rats. Keep in mind that if stuck in the adhesive base, mice may try to get out of it by tearing off their limbs. The sight is not pleasant, so it is better to check them more often and finish off the rodents or release them. It costs from 100 rubles.

Mouse trap “House”

This is a humane option for trapping: the trap does not kill mice, but simply locks them inside - rodents have no chance to get out. Such a “House” looks like a plastic tube, bent at a certain angle, and two doors. Before starting work, it is necessary to remove the back cover and put the favorite delicacy of mice - peanuts, seeds or dry pet food in the far part of the device. Then place it on a flat surface, close the back cover and open the front door - especially for rodents. When he crawls to the bait, the "House" will automatically slam shut.

Do not forget to check such traps in a timely manner - so that the mouse does not die inside! Release it to freedom and put a new portion of the bait, then set it again. The method is not only humane, but also affordable: for ~ 250 rubles. you can purchase 4 “Houses” at once.

Electronic exterminator of mice and rats "EcoSniper GH-190 Rat Killer"

"EcoSniper" is an example of the fastest getting rid of rodents: it kills mice with an electric shock in five seconds. This electronic trap can work both from a network, and from batteries. The design of the trap ensures the safety of children and pets. It can be used to catch any rodents in the house, garage and any other room. When using batteries, you can even set it up outdoors - as long as you protect the trap from water. But such powerful devices cost much more than usual ones - from 3000 rubles.

Live trap “Cage”

This cage trap is made of galvanized steel and has a wooden bottom. It is safe for children and animals, including mice themselves, and is suitable for those who do not want to kill animals, even harmful ones. Once in a cage-trap, the mouse remains locked in it, but unharmed. The caught rodent just needs to be released into the wild by opening the door away from your home. Some prefer to place poison inside the trap, but we do not recommend doing this - it's better to just catch and release the animal. The compact size of the cage allows it to be used anywhere - outdoors or indoors. Such a device costs from 350 rubles.

Product Type Operating principle Price

Steel mousetrap "FIT"

ordinary Slams on the body of the mouse ~69 RUB (2 pieces)

Plastic mousetrap "Mr.Mouse".

ordinary Slams on the body of the mouse ~80 rub.

Glue trap “Gryzunoff”

sticky (adhesive) The rodent gets stuck in the sticky layer from 100 rub.

Mouse trap “House”

live trap ~250 rub. (4 pieces)

Electronic trap "EcoSniper GH-190 Rat Killer"

electronic Kills mice with electric shock ~3000 rub.

Live trap “Cage”

live trap The rodent falls into the trap unharmed from 350 rub.