Business

Snap Traps And Multiple Catch Mousetraps

While every type of rodent control product has its pros and cons, the snap traps and multiple mousetraps are considered among the best. Here are a few of these pros and cons that you will want to know before buying them. 

Snap traps are a type of mousetraps made of a wide range of materials, such as metal, wood and plastic, and designed with a powerful snap hinge for an instant rodent kill upon contact. Keep in mind that these traps will immediately kill rodents and, as such, require immediate disposal of the dead pests – and it isn’t exactly the kind of task and the kind of capture that many homeowners like.

In contrast, multiple catch or live catch mousetraps won’t kill the rodents. Thus, these are considered as among the more humane ways of rodent removal from homes, offices and schools, especially as the rodents can be released. 

But don’t dismiss either the snap trap or the multiple catch mousetraps as too violent or too humane. You may just be surprised about their pros and cons, as discussed below. 

A Snapshot of Snap Traps

Rodents, such as mice and rats, breed quickly and furiously with a mature female rodent giving birth to multiple babies in a single litter once every 21 days or so. Slow and steady then won’t cut it. Otherwise, you will likely end up with a mice infestation and it isn’t something you want at any time of the year. 

This is where snap traps come in handy. Since these are designed for an immediate kill, these are more likely to achieve a quick knockdown of the rodent population, if and when these are used properly and regularly. You may have a rodent-free home in a short time although there will likely be a mice massacre, of sorts.

There are also other benefits of snap traps that make them an excellent choice for homeowners who have unsuccessfully dealt with mice infestation. These products are a more viable alternative to rodenticides in situations where these are either unsafe for use or undesirable, such as when there are curious pets and small children in the house.  These can also be reused, if and only if contamination isn’t an issue – in some cases, the odor from other rodents may attract other rodents, too, so these traps become more effective.

Snap traps are also more advantageous than rodent baits including rodenticides for many reasons.  For one thing, it can take several days for rodenticide to kill mice and, during the time it takes between setting up the bait and killing the mice, the pests have contaminated the areas with their urine and feces. Keep in mind that these waste products can cause diseases in humans, especially upon direct contact with broken skin (e.g., leptospirosis). 

For another thing, rodenticides are toxic to pets and humans so once these are spilled or scattered, these can cause harm. These products can also lose their palatability to rodents when left out for prolonged periods.

But there are also disadvantages to snap traps. You must have trapping skills to effectively use snap traps, from trap placement to inspection and disposal of dead rodents. You have to consistently monitor the traps so as to prevent children and pets from tampering with them, not to mention that the snap traps have to be reset once these are sprung.

These disadvantages can be overcome through proper use of snap traps. Here are a few strategies that will prove useful.

  • Place the traps in areas with signs of mice activity.
  • Consider setting up two traps close together, especially in areas with high traffic.  A dozen traps for two mice isn’t too many. 
  • Place the trigger next to a wall where rodents are likely to scurry around. 

But snap traps aren’t exactly the human method of rodent control. You should then consider other ways of catching mice alive so they can be freed into other areas, a human method. 

A Look at Multiple Catch Traps

This is where the multiple catch traps come in. As the name implies, these are designed to catch several mice at once without actually killing them, usually by encouraging them to act on their natural curiosity. You can view this web page to see a list of most popular humane mouse traps.

There are two types of these so-called curiosity traps. First, the low profile type are used as humane traps but only when these are used without glue boards. Second, the wind-up style usually stuns the mice as it flips them over into a holding chamber after they step on a spring-loaded platform. 

Both of these types, nonetheless, work on the natural curiosity of mice, as previously mentioned. Mice like to investigate new harborages and holes in old and new environments, not to mention that they are likely to follow other mice into these hidden places. Think of it this way: Captured mice will attract other mice on the loose, which explains the effectiveness of multiple catch traps.

Once the rodents are in the traps, they will likely die from food deprivation and/or body heat loss. But the period when they die varies depending on factors like temperature. 

The good thing about these mousetraps is that the mice don’t die within a wall where you can’t easily access them. You then won’t have issues with odor and fly infestations, which are significant issues on their own. 

The bottom line: Multiple catch mousetraps are highly recommended in comparison with snap traps. 

But, again, their effectiveness largely depends on their proper use – and you, of course, should ensure it. 

  • Place these traps near the walls, either perpendicular or parallel. The entry point for the low-profile traps should be parallel to the wall.
  • Place the traps in areas with either continual or high mouse activity as well as in locations where mice can enter and exit, such as the exterior doors as well as walls where mice can hide behind weeds, trash bins, and debris. 
  • Place these traps around the entire interior perimeter with adequate spacing, usually between 20 and 40 feet, in restaurants and other establishments in the food industry. 

Rodents may be pests in homes and other human habitations but they also benefit from humane removal. Be careful about your choices in rodent removal no matter your goal in doing so. When in doubt, ask for the assistance of professional rodent exterminators.  

Back to top button
Close