After speaking with Mannes, we evaluated the most popular choices to find the easiest to set, remove, and clean that can keep your living space vermin-free. Our top choice is the Victor Electronic Mouse Trap trap because of its ease of use and handy LED light that lets you know a mouse is trapped inside. Here are the best mouse traps you can buy. Electronic mouse traps use high-voltage shock to deal with mice quickly and efficiently. We like this product, which we home tested, because we found it easy to use and clean, and for its squeamish-free removal. In fact, we found this to be one of the easiest traps to set compared with spring-loaded traps we’ve used in the past. “The simplicity of baiting it and turning it on made the process quick and easy, and we didn’t have to worry about snapping our fingers in the tension bar,” our home tester reported. And the manufacturer is well known, having been a prominent name in pest control since the late 19th century. To use it, you bait the built-in bait cup inside a chamber that is removable for easy disposal and hit the “on” switch. The presence of a rodent causes the lethal electric shock; the manufacturer claims a set of 4 AA batteries (not included) kills 100 percent of unwelcome visitors. We like that this is a no-see device: When a mouse becomes trapped, a green light blinks to alert you that a mouse is inside. There is also a built-in safety switch that deactivates the trap when it is open, helping protect children and pets in your household. This product includes a bait cup, as well as suggestions for simple food lures such as cheese and peanut butter. You can buy this trap as a single or in sets of one, two, three, or four. Price at time of publish: $24.99 To use this trap, you simply place bait, such as peanut butter or other foodstuffs, in the food compartment and open the spring door. When a mouse enters the tunnel-like trap, the door closes behind it, but don’t worry—there are air holes to ensure it can breathe. We also like that the trap cleans up with just soap and hot water and comes with a cleaning brush. Price at time of publish: $15.99 With this trap, you place a little bit of bait on the pedal, then pull back the bow and engage it with the locking bar. You can then place the trap with the bait pedal facing the wall, and when a mouse steps on it, the bar snaps. Although this trap is amazingly effective and reusable, keep in mind that it can be hard to set, and you have to deal with the victim. Price at time of publish: $2.17 This refillable bait station has a see-through lid, so you can monitor how much bait is left. To fill it, you simply load the bait into the removable cartridge, located at the bottom of the product, and push it into place. Mice can enter through either side of it. The unit is designed to be tamper-resistant to protect children and pets, but keep the trap away from your family members, as the bait is toxic, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Price at time of publish: $15.97 The sensitive pressure plate is triggered by just a few ounces, and it snaps closed, killing rodents instantly. We also like that it’s easy to dispose of the entire trap or just the contents without having to contact the invader. Also, this trap is reusable; you may not even have to add more bait to get the next mouse. As with all snap traps, the JARMINERO should be kept away from children and pets. Price at time of publish: $16.99 You insert bait through the bottom of the trap, then twist the trap to set it. From here, all you must do is place it in an area where you have seen rodents; an indicator shows in a “Mouse Caught” label, letting you know when a mouse is within. Plus, the covered design keeps dangerous components away from curious pets and children. While the price may seem higher than other products, these traps do come in packs of two, and you can purchase them in six-packs, alleviating the cost. Price at time of publish: $30.02 We like glue traps because they’re inexpensive, refillable, and don’t use pesticide. The manufacturer also says this product is tamper-resistant, but we’ve noted that rodents are capable of moving the trap across the floor and into areas you’d prefer they not inhabit. Price at time of publish: $6.29 This reusable oversized snap trap has a removable bait cup to make setting it easier, and it has interlocking teeth for a more powerful snap. You can set the traps with a hand or a foot, and they’re effective for catching mice and rats, as well as squirrels. Price at time of publish: $8.49 We liked that the traps worked best with peanut butter instead of treats that are easy to grab and run such as bread or cheese. The traps are reusable, but rather bulky in design. Price at time of publish: $22.78
Setup
Many people are skittish about setting mouse traps, since they don’t want it to snap closed on their fingers. If that’s how you feel, there are several different types of traps that are easy to set and feature finger-friendly mechanisms. Read the directions on any trap you choose and bait it accordingly for best results.
Elimination
Most mouse traps kill rodents with a spring-loaded mechanism that catches them by the head or neck. But several alternatives exist—which are especially useful if you don’t want to see the dead mouse in the trap. You can choose to kill the mice for fast population control, or you might opt for a catch-and-release trap to relocate them to another area (far away).
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer for The Spruce. To make this list, Amanda Rose consulted with Cindy Mannes, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Pest Management Association, and personally tested each product over a one-month period. She evaluated each product for application/setup, positioning, and disposal methods.
