Trapping Practices

On-the-job considerations for using mouse traps

Utilizing mouse traps in commercial accounts often requires creativity and skills learned through experience. The following are some tips and suggestions for on-the-job use of mouse traps.

1. The use of glue traps installed within mechanical repeating mouse traps makes good sense for several reasons in addition to the insect monitoring benefits offered by such a practice. Another advantage of glue trap inserts is that they offer "backup." For instance, one of the most common problems associated with the repeating mechanical mouse traps is that they are often found with gaps in the lids and panels from either being bumped open by cleaning crews, forklifts or from not being closed securely. By installing glue traps into the mechanical traps, incoming mice and insects are not likely to escape through the gaps.

2. Although the various rat-sized bait stations may also double as protective containers for mouse snap traps and glueboards, the new Kness plastic station, which comes with the Stick-All Depot, provides for a simpler, smaller and quick viewing trapping station that takes less time to service than a bait station. I modify this station when I want to use snap traps by removing the accompanying glueboard and replacing it with two differently baited mouse traps. Also, the Depot features a low profile design.

Plunkett’s Exterminating of Minneapolis employs a "Combo-Catch" trap of this Depot by inserting a small folded insect monitor into the trap in addition to two mouse snap traps positioned on either side, resulting in a mouse and monitoring combination trap.

3. Record-keeping on or in mechanical repeating mouse traps can be time-consuming and tedious. Increasingly, more professionals are utilizing small 2.5- x 3.5-inch laminated plastic punch cards that contain enough dates for one to two years of service recording.

The card is simply left within the traps, and because it is plastic, can withstand dirt and moisture. They are thin enough to lay flat on the trap floor or fit snugly within the crevices as formed by the tunnels of the Tin Cat. It is still important, however, to maintain a separate log book of all captures and their locations.

4. When encountering a captive or dead mouse inside a trap within a sensitive account (food plant, pharmaceutical plant), insert the entire trap into a plastic bag and seal the bag at the point of capture. Then remove the bag from the premises entirely for disposal and trap cleaning efforts elsewhere.

5. For exterior trapping programs around commercial facilities (especially food plants and other sensitive accounts), never empty dead carcasses onto the property. All carcasses should be removed.

6. The various repeating mouse traps can easily collect food residues within accounts. If food particles are allowed to accumulate in them, the traps themselves offer ideal food, harborage and protection for various insects such as stored product pests and cockroaches. Always take the time to completely clean out any such food items in repeating mouse traps on the job.