Tip-Trap 109-0-001 Live-Capture Mouse Trap

These traps totally work most of the time, but you have to set them up properly. If you're not catching any mice, try these steps:1. It's important to wear disposable gloves whenever you handle the trap, because mice might avoid the trap if your scent is on it. Also, mice spread dangerous diseases that you can contract just by touching their droppings.2. Bait them with peanut butter, and despite what the instructions say, I believe using more is actually better, as long as it doesn't prevent the trap from remaining open. Use multiple traps and place them parallel to walls near areas where you believe the mice are coming from, out of the way of foot traffic (they can be accidentally triggered when you walk by), and don't put them in direct sunlight.3. Try to stay out of the room while the traps are set, and check them multiple times a day. Release mice within several hours. It can die of stress and dehydration if left for too long, which defeats the purpose of using a live capture trap, and it's costly - it's best to throw the trap away at that point for health reasons.If you're planning to leave them the entire day or longer, and you don't want to open the trap to find a dead or extremely stressed mouse that is close to death, it might be better to just use snap traps or try a mouse repellent. I have no experience with that but there are products such as Shake Away Granules, and some people claim success using moth balls, ammonia, or peppermint oil. Please don't use glue traps, they're very cruel, and never use poison, especially if you have children or pets. It can kill cats, dogs, and wildlife that eat the poison or the poisoned mice, and you'll be dealing with the smell of rotting mice in your walls for weeks.4. Each time you catch a mouse, wash the trap with bleach and reset it, and put it in the exact same spot. Mice follow scent trails from other mice to find food.5. Make sure there are no other sources of food so they'll be forced into the traps. I think this will also make them less likely to trigger the trap by walking on top of it. Mice aren't stupid, they'll figure out they can't get to the bait when they do that, so they'll be more likely to go inside the trap next time. Remove food from your kitchen and store it in sealed containers, including pet food.6. Do NOT release the mice in your backyard. They'll come straight back. It's amazing how far a mouse can travel to return home. Release them a mile away in a protected area with tall grass.This has worked for me multiple times so I hope this helps you, good luck!

Recently I've been researching mice and other vermin as they pertain to farmstead habitation.Knowing that they must be removed from chicken coops and feed storage areas, it's nice to have options that do not require poison, nor snap a mouse/vole/rat to death and leave it for animals to pick at and possibly get sick from.Your cat, dog and other pets may get access to dead animals in traditional traps, so these enclosed live catch traps seemed like a great idea.I purchased four and placed them on a shelf where mouse droppings were noted. I also places a motion activated camera so I could better see how they were or were not being trapped by the device.Within one 24 hour period, three out of four traps placed were tripped with nothing at all inside. Upon video and still image review, a Deer Mouse had trotted over the top of the three traps that were tripped and of course activated them without being inside.The third trap remained unsprung, but the Deer Mouse only sniffed the opening and failed to enter.With all four traps re-set for another go, the Deer Mouse now just scampers around each trap and doesn't bother with them at all.I have added a photo of the setup and mouse to the collection of photos submitted by buyers/reviewers.I like the idea of the tilt trap and in theory it's great, in practical use it's simply not effective. There are many solutions to this problem:The most popular is to simply put a cardboard box over the tilted UP end, through a hole that is cut just slightly taller than the trap at the fulcrum. This allows the trap to activate, but does not allow the mouse to stand ON the tipped up section. As this is an innovation which isn't already a part of the trap, I am giving my two star rating on the traps as designed.It also wouldn't hurt to make them larger with an adjustable balance weight... the buyer can of course make any number of modifications and the system is already being copied and improved by other companies... I guess this is an example of another weak patent registration process.So, I sadly would not recommend these to friends and others wanting to rid themselves of mice quickly.... but IF you enjoy the process of problem solving and using these as a starting point, you will certainly foil the mice and end up collecting them in short order.Look for the design which has a housing over the tipped up portion... it's better.