Introduction: Simple, Efficient and Humane Mousetrap.
After getting a new and improved cat in the household we found that said cat had a distinct talent for catching live mice outdoors, only to bring them indoor for release. We decided to reverse the process but ran into a snag, catching the durned thing. I decided to think like a mouse and came up with the following simple solution.
Step 1: Items Needed
To make the trap you need three empty toilet rolls and duct tape. In case you feel the need for lasers, you can certainly tape one to the finished trap.
Step 2: Assembly
Tape the three rolls together end-to-end to make a long tube. Close off one end as shown in the pictures. Secure the end with extra tape to prevent the mouse from escaping.
Step 3: Usage
A panicked mouse will head for corners or furniture it can get behind. If we use a broom to scare the mouse it will run along the wall looking for a hole. Good that we can provide one...
Place the tube as close as possible to the mouse and flush against the wall, open end facing mouse. Stress the mouse using a small broom or other item, from the opposite direction (red arrow). It is not neccessary to place the tube as shown in the picture, with something blocking the mouse from running along the tube. It will go for the hole, given the choice.
If the mouse is behind some furniture, place trap flush against the wall on one side, open end facing the furniture, and try to stress the mouse from the other direction.
9 times out of 10 it will try to get away by staying close to the wall, find the trap and bolt for the hole (blue arrow). Once inside the tube, the mouse will not come out voluntarily, so just pinch the open end closed, carry outside while holding the tube closed.
Once outside, and after closing the door to prevent cat from doing an encore and mouse from running inside again, grab the taped end, which is where the mouse will be holding on for dear life, let go of the untaped end, letting it open.
With a swift forward motion you will subject the mouse to a force along the lengt of the tube, forcing it out of the tube and into a nice parabolic flight away from point of eviction.
If you worry about the mouse, just shake it out, then watch it go up your legs while you scream like a little girl. Kids love that.
Jokes aside, the success rate of this trap is amazing, and it usually just takes a few minutes from mouse-in-the-house detection to capture and mouse eviction. My wife have no problems operating the trap and swears by it.
Happy hunting!
Place the tube as close as possible to the mouse and flush against the wall, open end facing mouse. Stress the mouse using a small broom or other item, from the opposite direction (red arrow). It is not neccessary to place the tube as shown in the picture, with something blocking the mouse from running along the tube. It will go for the hole, given the choice.
If the mouse is behind some furniture, place trap flush against the wall on one side, open end facing the furniture, and try to stress the mouse from the other direction.
9 times out of 10 it will try to get away by staying close to the wall, find the trap and bolt for the hole (blue arrow). Once inside the tube, the mouse will not come out voluntarily, so just pinch the open end closed, carry outside while holding the tube closed.
Once outside, and after closing the door to prevent cat from doing an encore and mouse from running inside again, grab the taped end, which is where the mouse will be holding on for dear life, let go of the untaped end, letting it open.
With a swift forward motion you will subject the mouse to a force along the lengt of the tube, forcing it out of the tube and into a nice parabolic flight away from point of eviction.
If you worry about the mouse, just shake it out, then watch it go up your legs while you scream like a little girl. Kids love that.
Jokes aside, the success rate of this trap is amazing, and it usually just takes a few minutes from mouse-in-the-house detection to capture and mouse eviction. My wife have no problems operating the trap and swears by it.
Happy hunting!