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How Mousetraps Work
Traditional snap traps, also known as spring loaded-bar mousetraps, are still commercially available and widely used. Snap traps attract rodents through the use of bait such as bread or peanut butter. When their spring mechanism is triggered, a metal bar traps the mouse. Some mice are killed, while others are merely maimed. Classic snap traps may leave unsightly messes and require that the homeowner come into contact with pests.
Glue traps function in much the same way as traditional traps. After being lured to the trap by food bait, mice are immobilized by an adhesive surface. However, glue traps do not kill specimens. Caught mice are left to starve or die of dehydration. Some mice may chew off their own extremities in order to escape these traps, though some mice are capable of freeing themselves with enough exertion.
Electronic traps catch and electrocute mice on the spot. The entire trap is disposed of and homeowners rarely see the dead rodents. However, these traps are costly and can only be used once. Live catch traps are also available commercially. These require that the homeowner release caught specimens into the natural environment and do not guarantee that mice will not return.
Live-catching mousetraps are designed for those homeowners who do not wish to kill mice. These traps also attract mice through the use of food baits, at which time a metal door will snap closed, capturing the specimen. Homeowners must then release the mice into the wild and released mice may reenter the home. If caught mice are not released within a short period of time, they will die of stress, starvation or dehydration.
Regardless of type, mousetraps are considered very effective in the capture and extermination of individual rodents. However, it should be noted that mouse populations grow rapidly and often require more extreme pest control measures.
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