How to Build a Mouse Trap
Build a Mouse Trap that Can Be Used as a Live Trap or a Death Trap
May 14, 2009
Use inexpensive materials that most people have around their home to build a simple yet effective mouse trap.
If you discover signs of mice around the yard, garage, outbuildings, or house, make an inexpensive, simple, and effective trap from common household items. A single design will allow you to create a live trap from which you can rescue the rodents and relocate them or create a death trap to eliminate the pests.
Supplies
- 1 five-gallon bucket
- 1 dowel (at least two inches longer than the diameter of the bucket)
- 2 safety pins or binder clips
- 1 pop can
- 1 narrow board (left-over trim board is perfect)
- 1 nail or screw
- hammer
- drill
- peanut butter
Instructions for a Live Trap
- Drill a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the dowel through bottom of the pop can.
- Drill two holes slightly larger than the diameter of the dowel just below the rim of the bucket on opposite sides of the bucket.
- Cut the dowel so that it is 2-4 inches longer than the diameter of the bucket.
- Thread the dowel through one hole on the side of the bucket. Thread the pop can onto the dowel (pass the dowel through the drinking hole and the hole you drilled on the bottom. Thread the dowel through the opposite hole on the bucket.
- To prevent the dowel from slipping out of the bucket, use safety pins or binder clips to hold it in place.
- To use safety pins, simply shove them through the ends of the dowel to keep it from slipping.
- To use binder clips, clip a binder to each end of the dowel.
- Cut the board so that it is long enough to make a comfortable ramp for the mouse to climb up to reach the peanut butter. Nail or screw one end to top edge of the bucket. Let the other end of the board rest on the ground.
- Smear peanut butter all over the tin can.
- Set the trap where you want to catch mice.
- Mice will smell the peanut butter (a favorite treat for mice and an almost irresistible temptation) and climb up the ramp. At the top of the ramp, they will jump to the pop can. If the dowel is loose enough, the mouse will land on the can and his weight will cause the can to spin and deposit him into the bottom of the bucket, which he will be unable to escape.
Instructions for a Death Trap
Follow the instructions above. Add poisoned bait to the bottom of the bucket.
Ideas and Suggestions
While exact measurements are nice, this project uses odds and ends from around the home and so exact measurements are not desirable or necessary.
The copyright of the article How to Build a Mouse Trap in Home Management is owned by Melissa Howard. Permission to republish How to Build a Mouse Trap in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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