One unusual feature of this trap that we especially like is that it's pre-baited; the trigger pedal has a "cheese scent" that will attract foraging mice. However, you can add a small smear of peanut butter if you want to make certain you catch the rodent. Either way, you will need to take extra care when setting this trap, as otherwise you might get a highly painful snap on your own finger. Plus, be careful to set the traps where pets and children can't reach them, but where rodents are present. Underneath a sink, behind appliances, or inside cupboards are all good options, as are basements and attics. The trap should be positioned with the bait end against the wall for best effectiveness.

While the design is simple yet effective, keep in mind that this mouse trap doesn’t have a bait cover like more elaborate traps do. If you have pets or young children in your home who may be tempted by the bait, you may want to opt for the Victor M070-6SR Easy and Safe-Set Power Kill Mouse Trap instead.If you have children or pets in your household, consider a mouse trap that is designed to be kid- and pet-friendly, like the Victor M070-6SR Easy and Safe-Set Power Kill Mouse Trap. How often should you replace your mouse traps? Hidden kill snap traps are designed with a chamber that has a baited switch at the end. Once a mouse enters the chamber and tries to move the bait, the hidden snap trap will kill the mouse in much the same way as a bar or clam trap would, but you don't have to deal with seeing a dead rodent. We tested the Victor Electronic Mouse Trap at one of our homes and found it to be one of the easiest traps to set compared with spring-loaded traps we’ve used in the past; no fears of accidentally snapping our fingers in a tension bar, as can easily happen with snap traps. For best results, place the set trap against a wall in an area where you've noted rodent activity. Because the trigger plate and bait cup are entirely enclosed within the trap chamber, your pets or kids won't be able to touch them, making this a much safer option than snap traps if you have curious little ones in your home. Mice love to run alongside walls. Due to this fact, it’s important to set your mouse trap perpendicular to your wall. This way, it doesn’t matter which direction the mouse is moving – it’ll trigger the trap. Numbers game

Certified wildlife biologist Dr. Paul Curtis says that mice seek the shelter of our homes for a few different reasons. “Mice are attracted to homes because they provide food sources and safe habitat to avoid bad weather and predators,” he says. He also explains that mice frequently use insulation as nesting material, and they can chew through cardboard boxes in pantries or cabinets to steal food. Remember The Trap Man gives you E mail help for as long as you own your trap, just quote your invoice number. Additionally, placing the trap in an ideal location will increase your success rate. “Mice run the wall edges, so traps should always be placed against the wall with the pan facing the wall,” Dr. Curtis says. Once you can see that the kill bar has sprung, you’ll know you’ve caught and killed your mouse, so now to get rid of it; which is where this Rentokil option continues to assist those with more than a touch of musophobia (fear of mice). Thanks to the design of the front tube, the mouse can be easily dropped into a bag or bin without having to even see it, let alone touch it. The best mouse traps are reusable; however, it’s essential to thoroughly clean your trap after disposing of a mouse. When handling traps, the first step is to always put on a pair of rubber gloves.

Rid your home of a mouse infestation with our roundup of the top-rated traps for unwanted rodents

While a very severe or persistent infestation will probably require the expertise of a professional pest control specialist, you can often handle a smaller problem yourself with a good mouse trap, whether it's a snap trap, electric mouse trap, bait station, or humane catch-and-release trap. To figure out which one is best for your mouse problem, we break it all down in the What to Look for Sectionbelow. Because the trap is made of durable plastic, it can either be reused or thrown away. If you do reuse the trap, be sure to clean it thoroughly and use gloves while handling it. It is the only mouse trap on our list that requires batteries, but it can kill up to 100 mice on one set of fully charged batteries. Disposal is also hassle-free with this option—after the trap kills a mouse, simply turn off the device and remove the kill chamber. Then, open the lid over a trash can or plastic bag to dispose of the mouse.

When it comes households with young, curious children and pets, snap trap are not suitable. After all, little fingers – and paws – can easily wander where they shouldn’t.Place the trap along the edge of your baseboard or along walls with the baiting platform facing the wall