Capture and Release

This page contains tips on how best to capture a mouse using a humane mouse trap, and where to release your mouse once you have him.

What's the best bait to use?

Everyone who has used a mouse trap extensively will have their own favourite bait. If mice are already getting in to your food, then you should try using some of that food as bait first, since they will already be used to it and trust it not to be poisoned.

Alternatively, many people recommend Peanut Butter for bait - the combination of Sweet and Savoury tastes seems to be excellent for attracting them. We personally have had good experience with chocolate.

Where to put your trap.

Mice tend to stay close to the wall for safety, only venturing away from the skirting when they need to. Therefore, you should place your trap so that any entrances into it are close to the wall. The idea is that the mouse will follow it's usual path and come to the trap entrance where it will smell the bait and - hopefully - be lured in.

Releasing a captured mouse.

Once you have caught a mouse, you should take it to a field at least a mile away to release it. Gently place the entire trap into a bag and walk or drive carefully to a suitable field. You should be carefull with the mouse at all times since they can often die of fright.

When you reach your destination, release the mouse in the longer grass at the edge of the field, rather than out in the middle where it is likely to be seen by birds of prey.

Mice as pet food.

If you have snakes or any other pets that eat mice, do not be tempted to use the mouse as food. Because they are wild, you have no way of knowing what kind of diseases or poisons the mouse has encountered. Only use shop-bought mice for pet food.