How to catch a mouse without killing it: 10 steps
Does the sound of a running mouse's feet keep you awake at night? If so, it may be time to catch the culprit. If you do not want to kill the mouse, learn how to set a trap, take care of the mouse and prevent the mice from returning.
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Part 1 Get ready to catch the mouse
1
Start by cleaning the place. Mice are initially attracted to your cozy environment. If you clean your house and make it less cozy, the mice will be less likely to stay.
Eliminate clutter in all parts of your house. Do not leave out clothes, papers or materials that mice can use to create mousetraps.
Do not forget to order storage spaces, especially where paper and old clothes are stored.
2
Clean and close all foods. [1] Be incredibly meticulous about this, since mice can make a meal of almost everything. Sweep the crumbs behind the appliances and in the cabinets.
Do not leave food outside. This includes the pet's food. Get used to closing and storing your pet's food at night. This will make it more difficult for the mice to feel comfortable.
Food stored in a cupboard must be completely closed. For example, if you opened a bag of flour, you should move it to an airtight container for longer storage.
3
Place the trap strategically. Place the trap in the room where you noticed the highest activity of mice. Once you put the trap you want to avoid the place for a while so you do not scare away her mouse.
If you do not have a countertop to use, you can create a ramp by supporting a small table. Place some peanut butter on the end of the ramp. The mouse will still be able to enter the dumpster, but it will not be able to exit.
4
Make a human trap. Spread some peanut butter inside a very tall garbage can (at least 60 centimeters or 2 feet high) and place it next to a counter that is taller than the garbage can. Fold an empty paper towel tube to create a flat tunnel and put some peanut butter on the inside at the end. Place this tube on the countertop so that the end with the peanut butter hangs over the garbage can.
If you use a purchased live trap, be sure to follow the package instructions.
Part 2 Take care of the mouse
1
Remove the mouse from the garbage can while wearing gloves. Make sure you wear rubber, latex or plastic gloves because the mice transmit contagious diseases. [two]
Take out your cleaning products so you can immediately disinfect the place when the mouse is locked. You will need a mixture of bleach and water in a spray bottle.
2
Move the mouse to a container. The mouse should not be able to leave, but should have ventilation to breathe.
Do not put the mouse in a cardboard, as it can bite cardboard containers.
Now you can thoroughly disinfect your dumpster and your countertops with a mixture of bleach and water after removing the mouse. Boot the cardboard tube.
3
Get the mouse out of your house. Whatever you do, do not release the mouse right outside your house. Mice can find their way back to a warm and close environment. Instead, take the mouse for at least 8 kilometers (5 miles) away and release it. [3]
Try relocating the mouse as soon as you can. The mouse will be locked for a short period of time and you can continue cleaning and disinfecting your house.
You can increase your chance of survival if you release him near some kind of shelter. Avoid urban areas where the mouse can simply return to another house and the wide and open spaces where you can not find a refuge from predators.
Part 3 Prevent the mice from returning
1
Cleans and disinfects mouse contamination areas. Open windows for ventilation and spray all faeces with a mixture of bleach and water. The proportion of bleach must be from one part to ten parts of water. [4]
Do not sweep or vacuum mouse feces or nest materials. [5] This can raise dust that can carry diseases.
2
Wait five minutes for the bleach mixture to penetrate the stool. Then, use a kitchen towel to collect the stool and throw it away.
Once you clean the countertops mop floors with a mixture of bleach and water to disinfect them.
Remember to wash the bedding in hot water and clean all upholstered furniture that you think the mice contaminated.
3
Prevents the mice from returning. In addition to keeping the house clean, check the seals of the doors, windows and access points to the outside. You can use any method you want to seal the cracks, just make sure you fill them all.
Do not use sealant or plastic fillers to seal cracks since mice can bite them. [6]
Sprinkle a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and introduce them throughout the house. Since the mice do not like the strong smell, they will stay away. [7]
Warnings
- Catching and releasing domestic mice will not prevent them from dying. Hypothermia and predators kill most of the mice that are released in the wild. [8]
- White-footed mice or deer mice can be released in the wild with much greater survival success. [9]