How to Keep a Mouse Trap Stationary

Mouse traps are one of the first things that homeowners pick up once they spot a mouse in their house. This traditional way of catching mice is still effective – as long as you manage to keep them in the same place long enough to trap the pesky rodents nesting at your home.

So what should you do to keep mouse traps stationary? Mouse traps often get moved or dragged by pets, bigger pests, and family members at home. To avoid these mouse traps from moving, it’s best to consider the type and location of the mouse trap, as well as the type and amount of bait used. 

Learn More: Are Mouse Traps Harmful to Humans?

Why Your Mouse Traps Keep Moving and What to Do About It

Have you noticed that the mouse traps installed in the house keep disappearing? This annoying situation is quite common for many homeowners who attempt to solve the rodent problem on their own. According to a study on rodent behavior by Dr. Bobby Corrigan, about 30% of mouse traps installed are often dragged away by trapped mice or other bigger animals.

When it comes to eliminating mice infestations at home, it’s important to catch them before they can cause more problems. Buying more traps just to replace the ones that disappeared isn’t the right solution, which is why we’ve listed down some of the most common reasons why mouse traps move and what homeowners should do about this: 

Hauled Away by a Trapped Mouse

Mice are curious creatures that approach new things, like mouse traps, slowly. Although they’re quite agile, most of them are clumsy enough to get some parts of their bodies trapped – such as their tails, limbs, or whiskers. There’s a huge chance that the startled and trapped mouse attempted to escape and managed to drag the entire trap.

The good news is that trapped mice won’t survive much longer even if they escaped with the mouse trap. It makes it harder for them to run away from other predators like cats or rats.

What You Can Do: If the mouse wasn’t fully caught in the trap, the mouse trap was likely installed incorrectly. Snap traps should have the snapping contraption faced against the wall or be placed in a confined space to work better. Make sure to check the product guide that comes with the mouse trap before installation to ensure that it works properly.

Dragged by Another Trapped Animal

Traps placed outdoors are likely to get dragged by a bigger pest. Bigger animals only experience minor injuries, which is why they might still run off to a much safer place. Pests and animals like rats, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and opossums might also be attracted by the bait used in the trap.

If these animals manage to trigger the mouse trap, they won’t easily get killed as small mice do. They might only run away with the bait and mouse trap in tow.

What You Can Do: If there are bigger animals or pests around the property that might accidentally get caught in the trap, then it’s better to get rid of them with the type of repellent that works for them. Homeowners should also consider which bait works best for mice but won’t attract other animals. Using heavy-duty traps outdoors may also lower the chances of these mouse traps getting dragged by bigger animals. 

Carried Away by the Pet

Mouse traps placed indoors might also be the subject of the house pet’s curiosity. They may play with it and get caught in the trap. Snap traps use a powerful snapping force that causes injuries to bigger pets, which is why it’s best to keep this type of trap away from places where pets might snoop.

On the other hand, their fur might get caught in the sticky adhesive if you’re using glue traps at home. Taking the glue boards off their fur usually requires the assistance of a veterinarian.

What You Can Do: One effective way is to find a strategic spot where mice pass by but cats or dogs won’t reach. Some brands also offer cat-safe mouse traps so that homeowners may still place a mouse trap on the floor without worrying about their pets playing with it. 

Moved by a Family Member

Like pets, children might also become curious about the mouse trap in the kitchen or other parts of the home. Some of them might kick the trap or play around with the mouse trap then accidentally trigger it. Older family members might also move the trap if it’s in their way then forget to put it back.

If family members often touch the mouse trap, there’s a huge chance that the mice might detect the smell and avoid the trap altogether. This only makes the pest control efforts useless, so make sure to only check the mouse trap when needed.

What You Can Do: Tell the family members in advance where the mouse traps are kept and ask them to refrain from moving them too much. You may also look for heavier mouse traps, so it won’t easily get triggered or moved when someone accidentally kicks it or bumps into it. Homeowners may also buy children-safe mouse traps for families who have curious kids at home who might play with the mouse traps. 

Read More: Do Mouse Traps With Fake Bait Work?

3 Things to Consider to Keep Mouse Traps from Moving

Selecting the right type of mouse trap is needed when it comes to solving mice infestations at home. Mouse traps come in different shapes, sizes, and functionality which makes it difficult for homeowners to pick the best one that works for their situation. Here are some of the most important things to consider when choosing a stationary mouse trap: 

Type and Weight of Mouse Trap

Glue traps, snap traps, and live traps are some of the most common types of mouse traps used at home. Most snap traps and glue boards are lightweight, which makes them easier to get dragged away. Always make sure that the traps you’re using are heavy enough to stay in place. 

Mouse traps also come in kid and pet-safe kinds, which are must-haves if the kids and pets are curious about the mouse traps at home. If the mouse traps at home are always moving or disappearing, consider getting tamper resistant bait stations next time. 

Location of Mouse Trap

Although it’s important to place the mouse trap in areas near the mouse nest or wherever the house mice frequently pass through, they should also be out of the reach of children and other animals. This prevents the traps from getting moved or incorrectly triggered. House mice often nest near a source of food, so make sure to check areas near food items for signs of mice activity like pungent odors, grease tracks, and mouse droppings.

It’s also important to tell the other people in the house where the traps are so they won’t move or trip on them. Another option is to glue down the trap to the floor so that it won’t easily budge when eliminating the active infestation at home.

Type and Amount of Bait Used

Rodent baits are another crucial thing when it comes to mice control. Make sure to use the right type of bait that only attracts mice but not other animals like roof rats, cats, dogs, raccoons, or squirrels. The mouse trap should also only contain the right amount of bait to trigger the contraption and catch the mouse before it gets away along with the trap. 

Cleaning Up a Stationary Mouse Trap

Dead rodents may still infect humans with deadly diseases, which is why it’s important to immediately clean up the rodent traps if there’s a dead mouse in one of them. Make sure to wear protective gear when removing the dead animal from the trap. Don’t forget to disinfect the area before picking up the animal carcass and after discarding it. Dispose of the dead animal properly. .

Keep Your Home Rodent-Free With Pinnacle Pest Control

Rodent infestations are best handled by pest management professionals like Pinnacle Pest Control. Our team of highly trained exterminators thoroughly examines your property for different signs of mouse activity like droppings, grease marks, bite marks, and musky odor then creates a pest control plan that best fits your needs.

Eliminate pesky mice at home and in your businesses for good with IPM-based methods by Pinnacle Pest Control today. Call us now to get a free quote.