How to Catch a Mouse in Your House Like a Pro

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A mouse in the house can cause quite a disruption. With a mouse on the loose, you worry about it destroying your possessions or wreaking havoc in your home. There are dozens of effective ways to get rid of mice in your house, but Zach Smith of Smith's Pest Management recommends using traps to catch mice, as baits and rodenticides can be dangerous to use around pets and children.

Traps are simple to use, create easy disposal of the mouse, are odorless (if you empty right away), and are chemical-free. There are three kinds of mouse traps to try: a catch-and-release trap, a glue trap, and a snap trap. Keep reading to learn how to catch a mouse in your home, and how to prevent them in the first place.

Meet the Expert

Zach Smith is the owner of California's Greater Bay Area-based Smith's Pest Management company.

How Do I Know There's a Mouse in the House?

Mouse feces or droppings are the most visible sign of a mouse problem. You will usually find them along walls, in food pantries, or under sinks. You may also hear scratching noises or smell the distinctive ammonia-like scent of the urine.

"If you're catching mice, you're probably within 10 feet of their nest. Keep looking under your appliances and in your cabinets, and you'll find the source," says Smith. "Mice almost always run along the baseboard, and they like to hide out in small enclosures, so set your traps where they are most likely to be and you will maximize your success," Smith says.

Tip

When you find the nest, look for an entrance point near doors, pipes, or a small crack along the floor.

Using a Catch and Release Trap

For a no-kill method, select a catch-and-release trap, also called a curiosity trap. Some traps are small and designed to catch a single mouse, while others are large enough to capture multiple mice.

The two common types of catch-and-release traps are wind-up and low-profile. The wind-up trap has a spring-loaded platform that flips the mouse into a holding chamber. Low-profile traps use a trap door to drop mice into a holding chamber and are slim enough to place under furniture.

To use catch-and-release traps:

1. Bait the trap. Peanut butter and marshmallows are favorites for mice. Make sure you don't impede the trapping mechanism.
2. Set up along a wall. Keep the entrance side closest to the wall.
3. Monitor the trap at least once a day. If you don't catch a mouse within a few days, try a new location where you've seen signs of mouse activity.
4. Release the mouse. Check local guidelines for releasing captured wild animals. It's best to take the mouse to a location at least a mile away from your home, then simply open the lid and release the mouse.
5. Clean the trap. It'll be fresh and ready for the next time you need it.

Using a Snap Trap

Snap traps kill mice instantly with the force of the metal snap action. They are made from wood or plastic and inexpensive enough to toss in the trash along with the dead mouse.

To use a snap trap:

• Bait the trap. Mice especially like peanut butter, cheese, or a marshmallow.
• Place the baited, but unset, trap. If the bait is taken, this will give you an idea of whether the mouse is traveling to this spot.
• Rebait the trap and set the snap bar. Trap the mouse.
• Dispose of the mouse and trap. If keeping and reusing the trap, clean it well before rebaiting.

Warning

Snap traps are easily triggered and should not be placed where children and pets can be harmed.

Using a Glue Trap

An inexpensive yet inhumane trap (a snap trap is a better option), a glue trap uses a pesticide-free sticky surface on a lightweight cardboard or plastic tray to trap the mouse. The adhesive is formulated with a bait attractant that lures the mouse to the tray.

To use a glue trap:

1. Place the glue trap sticky side up. Set it up in areas where you suspect mouse activity. For added effectiveness, place several traps five to eight feet apart along the bottom of a wall.
2. Check the traps at least twice a day. Take care that children or pets do not come in contact with a fresh or used trap.
3. After one is caught, dispose of the mouse. Be sure to wear gloves to keep things sanitary.
   

How to Catch a Mouse Without a Trap

If you choose to forego the above traps, you can make your own mouse-trapping device with items around your home. A bucket, a deep glass bowl, or an empty 1-liter soda bottle are some items that will lure mice. The goal is to trap the mouse in something that it cannot climb out of. Nut butters, meat, cheese, and crackers can be used to bait the mouse, as can anything with a high concentration of sugar such as chocolate or marshmallows.

Tips to Prevent a Mouse in the House

Even after you've caught the mouse, you may not be done and need to be vigilant.

"If you're not sure if you still have mice, leave a little piece of chocolate on the floor, mice can't resist chocolate. If it's gone in the morning you know you still got more trapping to do," says Smith. Just make sure your dog isn't around to grab the chocolate, as chocolate is toxic to dogs.

To help prevent more mice, consider the below tips:

• Inspect your home and seal gaps that are one-fourth inch wide or larger.
• Move bird feeders far away from your home's entry points.
• Keep all food and pet food in sealed containers.
• Eliminate clutter like cardboard boxes, newspapers, and stacks of paper that mice can use to build nests.
• Keep the kitchen counters and floors free of crumbs that attract mice (and other pests).
• Use trash cans inside and out with tight-fitting lids.
• Keep your garage and outside doors closed, especially at night.
• Keep the foundation of your home clear of leaves and debris that can harbor mice.

The fastest way to catch a mouse in the house is with a baited snap trap. The snap trap lures and kills the mouse quickly, compared to other traps.

Nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter, or hazelnut spread and foods with a high sugar content (chocolate, marshmallows, gum drops) are the best bait to use for mice.

Mice are deterred by many scents including cinnamon, citronella, cayenne pepper, ammonia, vinegar, peppermint oil, bleach, mothballs, and dryer sheets.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. About rats and mice. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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