Setting Mouse Traps. I Can't Be The Only One They Terrify.

[N F C]

Husband is away hunting. I'm home alone. I go to the basement and see a mouse sitting on my dog grooming table. I back up the stairs, and regroup. I go back to the basement and retrieve a mouse trap from the pile of them. I pick carefully as I see one is sitting there still set from last fall.

I put my peanut butter on it, than comes the hard part. I hold down the killing bar and set the trap. Now I gotta figure out how to release it and set it down without setting it off. My heart is pumping and I'm terrified. Such a silly situation. I finally get it released safely and set on the table. I'm so relieved. I feel like I just successfully armed some explosives. This isn't my thing.

This morning, dead mouse. Than I realize I gotta set more traps.

Anyone else a goof like me when setting a mouse trap, or is it just me?

See? This is why you need 3-5 house cats!
(I can't stand the traps OR the mice. But then I have 3 house cats )

 

[The Moonshiner]

I use these.

 

[Feathers Brady]

I absolutely hate dealing with traps, mice, rats, anything dead as far as that. Using this set up in basement and coop. Dump it every other day when the husband's not busy. Lol!!
Works like a dream. Also Rat traps are set . Nailed to large pieces of wood so the rat can't drag off with the traps. So far no rats this year

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Set it in place first, then arm the mechanism. Won't have to move it armed.

 

[Geena]

I use these.

View attachment 1592728

Me too, very easy to use. I keep a bunch of them set at all times around the coops.

 

[Big Red Roosters]

@Big Red Roosters
Steel wool? Please elaborate.

Go to the hardware store, in the paint section is where I get it. There are multiple kinds of it, such as fine steel and coarse steel. I go for the thickest they sell personally, I've never bought the fine steel.
I shove it as far back/down into the hole as I can, they all chew it and it supposedly shreds their insides as they swallow it, killing them, plus it keeps the hole blocked and others cant get in. I dont know if it kills them, I have seen dead mice and rats around the coop once winter starts getting close, but have never went as far as to cut one open and investigate.
I just know it works very well, no more rats chewing toes or mice soiling food. I've heard that you can do a caulk and steel wool mixture and it's a near 100% guarantee they won't get through. I've only used the wool and it's worked fine for several years now. I used to use poison behind the wool, but I just felt it was a bit risky and quit doing it last year.

 

[Feathers Brady]

The first thing I usually do is steel wool in any and all cracks that a mouse can get through . A mouse will not chew through it.

 

[Backyard Bruce]

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't like the drowning part. I like a quick kill. It's one reason we haven't made one of those even though they seem very effective. Is they a good way to die? Just a personal moral dilemma for me.

 

[sourland]

You are not alone. My 6' 7" SIL is afraid to set mouse traps.