Humane mouse traps are increasingly becoming the traps of choice in dealing with unwanted mice or Rats in the home. There are many reasons for this. This article will explain why other solutions to rodent control are less than desireable, and are even dangerous to use. Also included is a brief overview of the humane traps that are available.

The conventional methods for catching mice are spring loaded traps, glue pads, and poison.

Spring loaded traps

Spring loaded traps have been used for a very long time. You think of it as baited with cheese (peanut butter and grains work better)ready to lethally slam its metal bar on the unsuspecting mouse.

But on closer inspection it has major drawbaacks.  For example, mice are very quick and sneaky.  They don't always trigger the spring, but instead simply steal the bait.  

Secondly, think about what the mouse trap is supposed to do.  If it actually does catch the mouse, the mouse may still be partially alive, squealing in agony but unable to get away.  Or the mouse may bleed to death, possibly spreading infection on the flooring surface, both from the blood and from evaacuating its urine and feces.

Mouse Cube The Gentle Mouse Trap Mouse Cube is for those pesky mice who simply refuse to leave no matter what you do. These great little traps do no harm to mice. Just bait with a little peanut butter and crackers and they walk right in through the one way door for a little taste. Once they're trapped just pick up the trap you don't have to touch the mouse jump in your car and drive the little mouse to it's new home. Note be sure to check the traps twice a day so Mickey or Minnie don't get too upset . You'll receive four humane reusable mouse traps and full directions for use.

Thirdly the trap may catch the mouse, kill it, wet the home owner has no clue that the mouse was caught. So the mouse may lie dead for days, decomposing.  And the bait may also begin to rot, possibly attracting insects.  So for these reasons the traditional spring loaded trap poses health risks.

Glue Pads

Glue pads are rectangular items that lie flat on the floor.  You place them where you think mice travel, along baseboards,around furniture.   It's guesswork.  It is possible to bait them, but you have to devise your own way to do it.

If a mouse does travel over the pad its legs will stick to the pad. So the mouse will be trapped there alive.  And afraid.  And squealing and angry.  When you find the mouse it will most likely be alive.  Picking up the little critter - withot getting bitten - is a dicey affair.  And if it's still alive do you kill it? This is far from the best solutin.

Poisons

Poisons are not a great solution either. Yes they will kill mice. They eat the horrid stuff then go somewhere to die a painful death by internal bleeding.  If their carcass is hard or impossible to get to, they will decompose over time emitting a horrible stench.  And of course poison not only kills mice, it also kills pets.  Andlittle children who poke around and find it.

Humane Mouse Traps

So the modern solution is humane mouse traps.  These come in various shapes and sizes.  Some are made of transparent plastic.  Others are metal, with trating to allow you to see what's inside and to permit air to flow into the chamber.

You bait them with a peanut butter and grain mixture and when the mouse enters the main chamber a flap shuts to capture it. But without harming the mouse.  Some models cantrap 2 or more mice at a time.  They present no problems like contamination from infected blood,urine and feces.  

You simply pick up the trap, take the mouse to a remote location, set it free into the wild, and go home.  The traps can be reused. And they are very affordable.

People who use them say really good things about them.  So if you have a mouse problem I suggest you try humane mouse traps to solve that plroblem.

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These little creatures get cold just like we do, and in the fall, start looking for a warm place to spend the winter. They really love old houses, as the wood frames and many cracks and other openings offer very little resistance to their entry.Field mice are resourceful, small, and very fast. They are surprisingly intelligent. And they prefer to ponder a solution to a problem, such as how to get into your house, if they are afforded enough time to do so.

They are loosely related to rats but are much smaller; about 4 inches long with a hairless tail which is as long as the body. Their fur is usually gray, white, black, or brown. They are named field mice because their natural habitat is found in the grass of the rolling fields.They have much smaller teeth than Rats and they have extremely sharp claws. As mentioned, they can move very fast and people often report that they first realized that they had a field mice infestation when they happened to see a blur out of the corner of their eye.

The common field mouse prefers a moderate climate and the fall season signals to them that it is time to find inside accommodations. They are often motivated to burrow inside your home by the smell of food.They are notorious scavengers and will live in the walls of your home, coming out only to eat. They have many natural enemies, including: wolves, bears, cats, dogs, snakes, and owls. Their nocturnal nature helps to keep them safe as a good number of their enemies sleep while the field mouse is awake.

So now, how do we get rid of these unwanted visitors? Below are a number of home remedies to get rid of field mice. We will first approach the problem looking at non-poisonous solutions:

Steel Wool - Field mice are very small. They can insinuate themselves into the smallest crack or crevice. An opening as small as 2 inches wide is large enough for a field mouse to enter. Use steel wool to stuff into any holes, cracks or crevices that you see outside your home, in your basement, walls or in your attic. A particularly favorite haunt of these small creatures is under the kitchen sink, so be sure to put steel wool into any openings under there.

Soda Pop - Amazingly, these little guys love soda pop. Put a saucer of the sweet stuff where they are likely to get at it. The mice will drink the soda and die. Apparently, it is the carbonization that does them in.

Mashed Potatoes (instant variety) - Place instant mashed potatoes near where you suspect the mice are hiding. They will eat the potatoes which will swell up in their tiny stomachs before they can be digested, thereby killing the mice. Unfortunately, they will probably die in the walls which may produce a smell.

Plaster of Paris with Chocolate - Mix dry chocolate powder with dry plaster of Paris. Place it where the mice live. The mice will eat the chocolate plaster and then go out in search of water. The plaster will kill them but, unlike the situation with the mashed potatoes, there is a good chance that they will die outside of your house while searching for water.

These low-cost solutions may prove to be all that you need to rid your home of field mice. If these treatments do not work, you may need something stronger. Look for part 2 of this article for stronger solutions to your field mice problem.

Author: Stephanie McIntyre

Stephanie McIntyre and Wendell Bryant are Internet developers. Visit their site at http://pestcontrolbugfreezone.com/organic-pest-control

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_McIntyre

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Keeping Your House Free Of Mice & Rodents

Mice and rat infestation can be a serious problem. They can spoil and foul food, and spread disease. No one likes to share their homes with rodents. You throw out food, spend hours cleaning up their droppings and listen to them skittering in the walls and floorboards at all hours of the night. Here are some tips to help you keep your home mouse and rodent free.

1. Prevention is the best policy.
It's far easier to keep mice out than to get them out. Start by blocking holes and tunnels that provide access into your home for the furry little rodents.
Start with a careful visual examination of the foundation and all outside walls in your
house. Look for cracks and holes that allow access. Mice can squeeze under the crack below a door, so no hole is too small.
A trick for finding small cracks and holes is to turn on all the lights in your house after
dark, then walk around it carefully outside, looking for any places where light leaks through.
Patch any holes or cracks that you find, or stuff them with steel wool. It's one of the few things that mice can't chew through.
Make your lawn unfriendly to mice and rats. Keep it trimmed, and trim any bushes or shrubs near the house that make it easy for them to hide.
Trim trees so that the lowest branches are at least 18 inches above the ground.
Make sure that three branches that over hang roofs are at least three feet away from the house to discourage tree rats that can make the jump from a tree to the house.
Make sure that all window screens are secure and in good repair.
Cover chimneys with a spark arrester to keep mice and Rats from coming down the chimney.
Install a sweeper at the bottom of garage doors and any other doors to outside. A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime.
While you're at it, look for any holes around pipes that go through floors, and for vents. Seal them off with steel wool.
Mothballs stuffed into holes or scattered along foundation walls and behind furniture can help keep mice out, but be aware that they are poisonous. If you have pets or small children, be sure to place the mothballs in places that are inaccessible to them.

2.Cut down on the attraction factor.
Mice are attracted by food, of course. Once you draw them close to the house by leaving food out for them, it's just a short step to inviting them inside. Keep all garbage in covered metal or heavy duty plastic cans, preferably in an area that's not attached to the house. If you have a shed or enclosed porch that is attached to the house, don't use it for garbage storage unless the garbage is carefully stored away in covered tins or cans. Use mothballs to cover up the scent of food that might attract them as well.

3.Don't feed the animals.
Indoors, keep food and garbage off the floor and counters. Don't leave foods out on counters, including bread and cakes in cardboard or plastic bags. Mice will chew right through to get at the goodies inside.

Make sure that all dry goods are stored in plastic, glass or metal tins. Use canisters for flour, sugar and other dry goods. Put boxes of cereal in sealed plastic containers, or at least behind closed cabinet doors.

4. Opt for all natural rodent prevention.
Tom and Jerry fans take note - the mouse does not always win. One of the best ways to keep your home rodent free is to keep a furry companion. Not all cats are great mousers, but their presence is often a deterrent to mice and rats who will look for a more hospitable home.

5. When all else fails, call in a professional.
Professional pest extermination services are the best way to get rid of a rodent problem. A professional will know how to find access points and places where mice will travel, and has the license to use strong poisons and traps that will eliminate your problem.

Keep in mind that even a professional rodent abatement service is not a quick fix. It may take a few months before you notice an appreciable decrease in the rodent population, and you will have to keep up prevention efforts to keep them out.

By: CSStephanie Larkin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

About Author:
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about large businesses for home owners such as Orkin and Terminix

Technorati Tags: moce, mouse, Rats, rodents, vermin