Where Exactly Should You Place Mouse Traps?

Mouse traps are highly effective. Yes, a few traps in the most effective locations can take care of your mice problem in no time at all. The important concept here is to place traps well. You see, these traps are only effective if they’re set down in the right place. Traps in the wrong place are less than useless. So where exactly should you place mouse traps? Here are a few guidelines for doing this.

Where have you seen mice?

First and foremost, you should place mouse traps anywhere that you have physically seen the common rodents mice, or the evidence of mice. You should place traps in any area where you spot droppings or detect urine. When you see a dropping, pick it up (safely) and put a trap where the dropping was found. The same goes for gnaw marks. When you see gnaw marks on things like furniture, place your trap as close as those gnaw marks as possible.

More importantly, you should place mouse traps close to any food sources that mice have been into. If you have mice going in your cupboards and stealing food, then place traps inside those cupboards and around those cupboards.

Other places where you can place traps is in tight spaces. This includes the area behind or under large appliances (if you can reach). Examples of these are your fridge and stove. Other examples are the areas behind drawers, cabinets and cupboards. Ultimately, you should place mouse traps in any area where mice have been or may go and clean these spaces regularly.

What is “wall seeking behaviour”?

Another huge tip for placing traps is that they should be set along walls, and also place them in corners. There are two reasons for this. First, rodents have evolved to engage is something known as “wall seeking behaviour.” These means they try to stay as close to walls as possible. You may have noticed this already. Mice always seem to run along walls, don’t they?

Well, the reason why they do this is because it helps to protect them against predators. Another reason is because mice use their whiskers to navigate. By keeping their whiskers against a wall, they are more easily able to find their way. You can take advantage of this behaviour and use it against them. Simply place your traps in corners and alongside walls. This should be done close to where they live, wherever you store food, and anywhere that you find mouse poo.

Check your traps regularly. It is worth having more than one trap and placing them in different areas. If they are not working at all, you could try a different place. If you cannot deal with the infestation yourselves, call pest control for help.