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Mouse traps are a simple and effective way to eliminate rodents in your home. One mouse can often lead to several entering your home and causing an infestation, so it’s important to set traps as soon as evidence of a mouse appears. To help you select the trap that’s right for you, our team researched today’s best mouse traps.
Here are our top recommendations.
Top 4 Mouse Traps
- Best Glue Trap: Catchmaster Baited Traps
- Best Pack: JT Eaton Jawz Plastic Trap
- Best Jaws: Tomcat Press ‘N Set Trap
- Best Catch-and-Release Trap: Catcha Two-Piece Humane Trap
Compare Top Mouse Traps
| Product | Type | Pack Size | Material | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catchmaster Baited Rat, Mouse, and Snake Glue Traps | Glue | 12 glue traps | Plastic | Disposable |
| JT Eaton 409BULK Jawz Plastic Mouse Trap | Snap | 24 snap traps | Plastic | Reusable |
| Tomcat Press ‘N Set Mouse Trap | Snap | Two snap traps | Plastic | Reusable |
| Catcha Two-Piece Humane Smart Mouse Trap | Catch-and-release | Two catch-and-release traps | Plastic | Reusable |
| Product | Type | Pack Size | Material | Usage |
Best Glue Trap
Baited Rat, Mouse, and Snake Glue Traps
- $27.13
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Displays temperature readings in one to three seconds
✔ The digital display features a read-out hold function, 360-degree viewing, and a splashproof construction
✔ Provides 4,000 hours of continuous use on a single battery
✘ Not ideal for budget-conscious shoppers
✘ Some customers cited issues with customer support
Key Features
- Comes with 12 glue traps
- Also available in six-, eight-, and 10-packs
- Made of plastic
- Has a disposable design
What Customers Are Saying
Those who were pleased with this product said that its strong adhesion prevented animals from escaping and that its setup required minimal effort. However, those who weren’t happy with this trap complained that it wasn’t as effective on rats. Other dissatisfied customers received fewer traps than they ordered.
Best Pack
JT Eaton 409BULK Jawz Plastic Mouse Trap
Pros and Cons
✔ Can withstand being dropped and washed with water
✔ Has a loop for hanging storage
✔ Can choose between Fahrenheit and Celcius readings
✘ Can’t be used with a deep fryer
✘ Has a longer temperature read time than other options, taking at least three seconds
Key Features
- Comes with 24 snap traps
- Uses your bait of choice
- Made of plastic
- Has a reusable design
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews of this product said that it killed mice quickly, worked with other small animals, and allowed for disposal without touching the rodent. However, negative reviews said that the mouse trap’s trigger wasn’t sensitive enough and that the manufacturer sometimes didn’t ship as many traps as advertised.
Best Jaws
Tomcat Press ‘N Set Mouse Trap
- $6.47
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Sets with just one touch
✔ Can be used with Tomcat’s gel bait
✔ Can be reused
✘ Only comes with two traps, which won’t suffice for larger infestations
✘ The bait is sold separately
Key Features
- Comes with two snap traps
- Also available in a 14-pack
- Uses your bait of choice
- Made of plastic
- Has a reusable design
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said this product was effective at instantly catching and killing mice once it was set up. Many others liked that it made a loud snapping noise to indicate when a mouse had been caught. However, dissatisfied customers complained that these mouse traps broke easily and didn’t always snap once the bait was taken.
Best Catch-and-Release Trap
Catcha Two-Piece Humane Smart Mouse Trap
- $229
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Doesn’t use poison
✔ Can be reused after cleaning
✔ Allows for catch and release without having to touch the animal
✘ Needs to be monitored consistently, or mice can starve or suffocate
✘ Is too small for rats
Key Features
- Comes with two catch-and-release traps
- Uses your bait of choice
- Made of plastic
- Has a reusable design
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who liked this trap said that it allowed for the easy release of mice and lured a large quantity of rodents in a short time. However, other customers complained that the mice were able to break the contraption by scratching and chewing at its sides. They also said that it sometimes killed mice by suffocating or starving them.
Buying Guide to Mouse Traps
When deciding on a mouse trap to purchase, here are some of the most important factors to consider.
Type
Several types of traps on the market get rid of mice. Here are some of the most common.
Catch-and-Release
For those looking to catch mice without killing them, catch-and-release traps are the way to go. These traps typically have a door that traps the mice inside of a small plastic container. The downside of catch-and-release traps is that they need to be consistently monitored, as mice can die from suffocation or starvation if they’re enclosed for too long before being released.
Electric
Electric traps kill mice instantly with a surge of electricity once the animal enters the trap. This makes them one of the most humane kill traps. However, they can be expensive and difficult to maintain.
Glue
Glue traps immobilize mice when they step onto the glue surface. While they’re inexpensive and easy to set up, these traps are largely considered the least humane option because the animals typically take a long time to die from stress or starvation.
Snap
Snap mouse traps use a metal bar or serrated teeth to clamp down on a mouse when it takes the bait set in the trap. These traps are inexpensive but don’t always kill the animal instantly.
Open vs. Closed
In addition to determining which type of trap you prefer, you’ll also need to decide if you want to purchase an open or closed trap.
Open traps are easier to monitor, allowing for simple disposal once the rodent gets caught. However, they may not be the best for squeamish customers who don’t want to look at the animals or households with small pets or children who could get injured.
Closed traps allow for disposal without seeing the dead animal, but they may require more attention to see when a mouse has been caught.
Ease of Use
Some mouse traps are more difficult to use than others. For example, a glue trap that doesn’t require bait is easier to set than a snap trap that does. Additionally, a trap that allows you to dispose of the mouse without touching it is more pleasant to use.
It’s important to look through the capture and disposal methods of each trap before purchasing one to decide what the best option is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mouse Traps
Where are the best places to put mouse traps?
Some of the best spots for traps include:
- Along the wall
- Behind furniture
- In dark rooms
- In other damp or moist locations
- Under the kitchen sink
- Wherever you see droppings or mouse activity
What type of bait is best for mouse traps?
Peanut butter, jelly, and chocolate sauce are good bait options because mice can’t easily grab them and leave the trap. This extends the amount of time the mice have to sit on the trap to get the food, increasing your chances of trapping them.
Are mouse traps dangerous for pets?
No-kill traps are typically safe for pets. Some electric traps and snap traps may also be safe, as they may be too small for a cat or dog to get stuck in. However, it’s important to read the trap’s instructions carefully before setting it up to make sure that it won’t harm your pet.
How We Selected the Best Mouse Traps
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of traps with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
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Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
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