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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is happening??!!help

141 replies

NotEver0 · 13/01/2021 13:18

I am totally confused and hope someone can shed some light on what they think is happening here.after finding mice in my garage last year we had traps set up which worked effectively and since then have continued with traps.
Two days ago a mouse was caught and disposed of and as usual as bait I put a corner of biscuit in each trap and set them.Twice in the past two days the biscuit has gone but the traps have remained unsnapped!!how is this possible?The snaps are so sensitive that they snap instantly if touched so my question is how has a mouse managed to evade snapping the trap and getting the biscuits twice in two days???
For the life of me I cannot work out what's going on!

OP posts:
FrankieChips · 13/01/2021 15:59

@Suzi888

Don’t use a glue trap, what if it’s a cat? There was a cat that needed emergency veterinary treatment because a glue trap was used. They are calling for a ban.
This is true. A cat had to be euthanised recently after being caught in several glue traps. Poor thing.
apalledandshocked · 13/01/2021 16:02

The problem with humane traps is that, especially in this weather, if you release them outside and they dont find their way back inside (yours or someone elses house) they will die. Snap traps are not inhumane, they usually provide a quick death. Sticky traps are very inhumane and banned in the country I live.

flytterbugsdog · 13/01/2021 16:03

I do agree though that the humane traps are better at catching mice one they have worked out how to remove food from snap traps without setting them off.

KarmaNoMore · 13/01/2021 16:06

You killed an innocent mouse, what you have is ants!

ravenmum · 13/01/2021 16:08

Put a free motion detector app on your phone and leave it a few hours in the garage with the light on.

makinganavalon · 13/01/2021 16:15

Peanut butter works best for our visitors.

Snap traps are the best- I literally watched a mouse pass by the humane traps for a week last year in my dining room so desperate I was not to use a snap trap. But in the end it got ridiculous. Put a snap trap down and next morning it was gone. Would love to use humane traps but not going to feel ashamed of using a snap trap when the others just don't work.

mekitgubakuds · 13/01/2021 16:16

What's the AIBU question? I must have missed it in the OP?

FamBae · 13/01/2021 16:17

I can highly recommend a sonic mouse repellent, you can get plug in or battery, after moving to a rural area something had been nibbling at dh motorbike seat, we haven't had a problem since and also bought one for our motor home.

Flew · 13/01/2021 16:22

You killed an innocent mouse, what you have is ants!

But the mouse got the biscuit and then left? OP didn't kill an innocent mouse! 🐀

Flew · 13/01/2021 16:24

dried bikinis.

Was this a typo? I hope not, it made me laugh! Grin

QuestionableMouse · 13/01/2021 16:28

@Suzi888

Don’t use a glue trap, what if it’s a cat? There was a cat that needed emergency veterinary treatment because a glue trap was used. They are calling for a ban.
Glue traps are evil. Don't use them for any animal. They should be illegal.
ifIwerenotanandroid · 13/01/2021 16:37

@Wingedharpy

The mice have invested in barbecue tongs.
Grin
OHolyTights · 13/01/2021 16:41

A friend has the plug in anti-rodent system in his cottage which is very rural, sometimes left empty because of his work and was previously sometimes overrun with mice and rats. It works perfectly. No humane/snap/poison to worry about. When we stay there, we see mice outside and have heard rats in the wood store but not a sign in the cottage. I wonder if it's possible to have just one plug-in for your garage? Might be worth looking into.

FreezerBird · 13/01/2021 16:43

@VodselForDinner

There’s only one logical explanation;

Poltermice.

Worried234 · 13/01/2021 16:43

@Marmunia1975

People who use inhumane traps are utter scumbags. Would you lay out a trap for your baby?
FFS 🤣🤣🤣
OHolyTights · 13/01/2021 16:44

But definitely do not resort to glue or poison.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 13/01/2021 16:49

We used Peanut butter, works better than anything for us.
We also had them in the attic, so put an electrical socket up there and plugged in a Sonic repellant thing, worked great.
They aren't good if you have pets who might be affected by them. some dogs and cats are bothered by them as well a animals like hamsters.

CleverCatty · 13/01/2021 16:49

Has anyone provided you with the answer 'get a cat' yet? surprisingly effective I've found...

lockdownconfused · 13/01/2021 16:50

In work we have smart traps they look like the humane traps with a one way door. They are baited and the rodent trips an alarm that then releases a gas that kills them and a signal is sent to the pest control person that the trap has been activated they come and remove the dead animal and reset the trap. Not sure if they are available for homes but might be worth looking at?

CleverCatty · 13/01/2021 16:51

@apalledandshocked

The problem with humane traps is that, especially in this weather, if you release them outside and they dont find their way back inside (yours or someone elses house) they will die. Snap traps are not inhumane, they usually provide a quick death. Sticky traps are very inhumane and banned in the country I live.
Humane traps which mean if you release the mouse a long way away in most cases are the only way means that the other mice where it's moved to will see it as an imposter and intruder and usually attack and kill it.
CleverCatty · 13/01/2021 16:52

@lockdownconfused

In work we have smart traps they look like the humane traps with a one way door. They are baited and the rodent trips an alarm that then releases a gas that kills them and a signal is sent to the pest control person that the trap has been activated they come and remove the dead animal and reset the trap. Not sure if they are available for homes but might be worth looking at?
so an option between gassing and breaking their necks?!

Very good but the main thing one should do is ensure the darned mice can't set up home where they get in... so i.e. they cannot get in!

MeringueCloud · 13/01/2021 16:52

@movingonup20

Use humane traps! And find the hole they are getting through
What do you do with the mouse after you've caught it in the "humane" trap?
CleverCatty · 13/01/2021 16:55

@dingoesatemybaby

When we had mice I was absolutely against any form of inhumane trap and didn't use them.

But the humane ones didn't work. The only thing that worked was getting a cat (we were getting one anyway, it wasn't just for the mice). I appreciate what above post said about the cat and terrifying chase etc which is an awful thought, and he has caught a few (although thankfully always dead so I hope he killed them quickly). The actual presence of a cat seems to act as a deterrent, he caught most of them in the first six months we had him, since then have been very few and far between, so I'm assuming he's simply scared them off.

doesn't the smell of a cat generally send a 'move house' scent signal to most mice?

helped when I had my cats. The buggers kept bringing them in from outside though, little shits...

Gobbeldegook · 13/01/2021 16:55

Humane traps are only humane if you release the mouse/rat less that half a mile from trap point. You won't get rid of the problem like that.

stayathomer · 13/01/2021 16:56

I hate all this talk of killing mice, have gotten mice out over the years and released them in parks/ countryside. This was because we had a number of cases of mice getting paws or tails stuck in traps and the noise and suffering of them was horrific to watch. By the way have seen mice grab food out and evade traps too (yes I wish I wasn't so well up on this subject but I've lived in some very old houses!!) We now have cats, not to get mice just because we fell in love with them!