There are four main types of mouse traps, and they are the following: Snap traps, glue traps, Electronic traps & Humane traps. Each one functions a little differently and can serve a different purpose.
Snap traps use a spring-loaded metal bar and a plate so when pressure is applied, the bar “snaps” forward and immobilizes/kills the mouse. These traps are often regarded as inhumane because the mouse cannot leave once in the web cannot escape and is left to either die of its injuries or starve. Snap traps that are designed well and used correctly are consistently found to ensure a quick death to the mouse or rat, and once cleaned, they can be reused. This reusability is what sets them apart from other traps.
Glue traps, on the other hand, are trays coated in the sticky adhesive that traps whatever touches them. Animals that feel a glue board is immediately caught and stuck to the board and usually suffer a slow death by starvation or suffocation. Glue traps are considered inhumane because they cause mice to panic and frantically attempt to escape, often tearing off their skin in the process. These traps are effective; however, they can have unwanted victims such as lizards & birds, which, when trapped, often make the trap unusable and cause suffering for those caught in it. Furthermore, once used, glue traps cannot be reused.
Electronic traps use an electric shock to deliver a fatal amount of electricity to a mouse killing it in seconds. These are regarded as some of the most humane traps because they kill the mouse fast and don’t cause unnecessary suffering. Furthermore, these traps can often be reused and require very little to set up apart from some batteries and patience. These traps, being electronic, are a bit more expensive than other traps, and can’t be bought in bulk such as with snap & glue traps.
Lastly, we have humane mice traps. There are two main humane traps: see-saw and spring-loaded door traps. Spring-loaded door traps use a spring-loaded plate similar to snap traps that when the mouse walks into the trap and steps on it, it shuts the catch behind the mouse instead of killing it. The mouse, once trapped, can be released away from the owner’s home.
However, the trap is relatively ineffective if the mouse doesn’t fully walk in and step on the plate. See-saw traps use a bucket and a board of metal/wood attached to the bucket’s rim. When the mouse walks to the end of the board, the weight of the mouse causes the board to drop underneath the mouse, trapping it in the bottom of the bucket.
These traps also keep the mouse alive in the bottom of the bucket so they can be released nearby. See-saw traps have one flaw: if the mouse figures out a way to get the bait without stepping fully onto the board, then the web doesn’t work.
In conclusion, if you want an effective trap that kills the mouse, you should pick an electronic trap because they cause the least amount of suffering, and they also kill the mice, so they don’t potentially come back and reproduce. Also, electronic traps can be reused, unlike glue traps, so you can use them in multiple areas with a mouse problem.
If you don’t want to kill the mouse, use a humane trap such as a spring-loaded door trap or a see-saw trap because these traps, although ineffective, keep the mouse alive so they can be released nearby.
Furthermore, if multiple mice use the humane trap, they’ll start to recognize it as a potential food source allowing you to catch more mice.
Author: Nathaniel Patterson – Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, ASU at Tempe