One of the biggest problems that households face is mice infestation.

These rodents spread disease and cause emotional stress. You know you have a mice problem because of the signs left behind; mice droppings, scratch or chew marks, and noises.

There are many ways in which you can trap or kill a mouse, from live traps, natural repellant, and even an electronic mouse trap.

All options have their benefits and drawbacks, but the easiest method of killing mice is using an electronic mouse trap.

It also has the benefit of being completely enclosed, so if you are the type of person who cannot bear to see or touch a mouse, then it is the best option for you. It will quickly kill a mouse in a humane manner and can be used for multiple mice.

Here we will look at different types of electronic traps, how to use them, clean them, their effectiveness, and any problems that can arise from using them.

Let’s get started!

What Are Electronic Mouse Traps?

An electronic mouse trap is a powerful battery charged device that senses when a mouse enters it, using smart circuit technology, and hits the mouse with a high voltage shock.

This electric current kills the mice within seconds, allowing you to get rid of it. Some have barriers which hold the mouse in place with a no escape design.

There are different models of electric mouse traps available but the Thamos Electronic Rat Trap is a great example of a trap that will eliminate mice with a quick kill.

Not only are they effective but the built in safety switch means they are safe in the presence of children, larger pets and other animals.

These traps are basically rectangular boxes, which are separated into two parts. One part for the battery compartment, and the other part where you need to put the bait to capture the mouse.

How to Use Electronic Mouse Traps

Before using the electric mouse trap, it is important to make sure the trap is turned off.

A blinking light will indicate when the device has been turned on but it should be fairly easy to know where or not it has a charge.

Setting the trap

After turning the trap off, follow the following steps.

1. Make sure you are wearing gloves and keep the trap at a distance from yourself so that your smell does not get rubbed on the device.The mice are interested in the smell of the bait cup, and any interference can possible keep it away from the device.
2. Take some bait, usually a protein, like hazelnut spread or peanut butter and using a toothpick spread it on the back wall of the kill unit.You need to make sure that you spread the bait carefully, as it should not be on the metal plates, so that it does not trigger the device.

   You should also be careful to avoid over baiting, which is when you put too much bait, as the bait itself could trigger the device and the mouse would easily leave.

3. Close the panel and then place this rodent control device in the best possible position.

Placing it at an ideal location

It is important to place the trap at the ideal location where it would capture the most mice.

In most cases the trap should be placed along the walls, as that is the place where mice like to travel from, or the place where you notice the most mice dropping.

Turning it on

After you have placed the electronic mouse trap, it is important to turn in on. Once you turn the trap on, the light should bilnk green, telling you that the device is working.

In case of a battery run electronic trap, you need to make sure that the battery is placed properly, with the positive and negative sides of the battery facing the same direction.

How Electric Traps Work

There is an opening on the panel side of the trap. The mouse enters through this opening to get to the bait that you have put against the wall opposite to the opening.

When the rodent enters the trap and is moving towards the back, the trap senses the mousewhen it comes between the two metal plates and the triggers the trap.

It delivers a high voltage current to the mice which can kill it in less than five seconds in a safe and humane manner.

Cleaning is required

It is important to clean the trap before you use it again, some traps are so sensitive that even dust causes them to malfunction and they need through cleaning.

For the meal plates to work at peak condition they need to be kept cleaned and dry.

Another reason to keep your traps cleaned, is that mice have a strong sense of smell. They can smell the residue of other mice and may avoid the trap completely if they feel that it is not safe or fear a threat.

It is thus vital to keep the trap clean and the surrounding environment clean so that they do not run to safety. If you wnate to get rid of your mouse problem, proper cleaning is required.

Cleaning Your Electronic Mouse Trap

You need to follow the steps given below to properly clean your electronic mouse trap.

One of the benefits of these traps is that they have easy cleanup. Even if they are easy cleaning, you still want to take these steps.

Protective gear

Before you touch a mouse trap with a dead rodent inside, make sure to protect yourself with protective gear. The gear with protect you from bacteria and other pathogens that may have been across the area and on the rat inside.

• Use gloves to pick up your electronic mouse trap.
• Make sure that you are wearing a long sleeve shirt
• Wear an apron if possible.
• Face mask (HEPA preferred)
• Disposable sponge
• Disinfectant

Get rid of the dead mice

You can get rid of the mice following the given steps.

1. Disinfect the area where you caught the mouse, so that there are no remnants or bacteria from the captured mouse outside the trap.
2. Get rid of the dead mouse as carefully as possible. Even with a trap that has a completely enclosed chamber and you cannot see the mouse, you need to be very careful.Open the plate over the trash, where you are disposing the mice, and carefully put the panel back, throwing the mouse away.

   If you are squeamish, you can turn your face away or close your eyes so you never see the rats or mice.

3. You need to make sure to seal the trash you are putting the mouse in very carefully.
4. Make sure you follow the policies regarding the disposal of dead animals as started by your country or city. Some cities demand that the animal be disposed separately, while others state that it can be disposed with regular trash.Make sure the carcass of the mouse is enclosed by two layers of trash sheets and sealed completely, along with a note which tells exactly what is in the bag.

Cleaning the trap

After you dispose of the dead mouse from the trap, you need to make sure that the trap and is clean and without left over residue before you can use it again.

1. Turn the device off and take out the four AA batteries, other batteries or charging component.
2. You cannot use soap on an electronic mouse trap, because it may cause damage to its plates which give the electric shock. These traps are means for indoor use and you don’t want them to short circuit.
3. Use a dry sponge or a dry cloth to clean the inside of the trap and the rodent entrance. A cotton swab can be used for smaller areas.
4. Use an alcohol soaked paper towel and clean the metal plates very carefully.
5. You can use fragrance free detergent to clean the back wall with the bait.
6. The kill plate can be cleaned with a small amount of hot water and then wiped dry with a paper towel.
7. Make sure to clean all residue and dust.
8. Let the device dry. It is vital that there not be a drop of wetness on the device before it is turned on, to avoid an electric charge.
9. Repeat the cleaning as much as possible or needed.

Disinfecting

The device may have a strange odour after killing the mice, should may cause other mice to avoid it or run away. You need to make sure to disinfect the trap and the surrounding as well.

Do not dust or vacuum the area where there is large movement of mice, as it might cause the pathogens to rise up in the air with the dust.

Instead you need to make sure to spray the area with an enzyme cleaner, letting it rest for more than 15 minutes and cleaning the area with a disposable rag.

FAQs

Are electric mouse traps reusable?

Eelctric mouse traps are reusable. You just need to make sure that the metal plates which create the electric charge and properly cleaned and do not contain any debris.

How long do electric mouse traps last?

An electronic mouse trap, depending on the brand can have a different life cycle. A trap running on 4 AA batteries can last up on 3 years on standby.

If it is being constantly used, then it can kill up to 100 mice in its once charge cycle, before you would need to replace its batteries.

This can vary depending on the type and quality of the electronic mouse trap used, and the batteries that the trap requires. It also depends on how long the dead mouse remains in the trap before it is properly disposed of.