A Better Mouse Trap

[GilpinGuy]

Since our last dog Mason died, we have been invaded my chipmunks, mice and squirrels on our property. Mason would kill the shit out of those bastards. I guess a fairly mild winter helped with the procreation of the insidious beasts as well.

I wish I could take credit for this "better mouse trap" but it wasn't my idea. I assume this is ages old. This is for outdoor use, obviously.



Take a 5 gallon pail and fill it about half way with water.
Toss in a bunch of sunflower seeds. Enough to cover the surface of the water.
Place a short board angled from the ground up to the lip of the bucket.


The rodents look in, see the sunflower seeds floating on top and think it's a bucket full of seeds - they don't realize there is water under the seeds. They jump in and can't get out. Done.

We got about 20 rodents in 3 days - better and cheaper than getting a cat. After scooping out the corpses I need more sunflower seeds. There are lots of germ bags running around still. Getting some seeds tomorrow when I buy some quail feed at Wardle. Yes, we'll get more dogs soon but we are considering moving next year, so better hold off on that.

Not one squirrel in the bucket though, but that's OK. They don't rip up my insulation, tear through wires, or scare the shit out of my wife like the other rodents.

[theGinsue]

If you use an anti-freeze/water mix you can leave the bucket longer without cleaning it out - the anti-freeze controls the rotting smell.

[newracer]

A slight variation, they jump onto the can and then fall into the water.

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/xlcountry.com/files/2012/05/mousetrap.jpg

[sniper7]

We use what newracer poster but with a plastic bottle and sprinkler some chicken scratch over the peanut butter which is what the little bastards like to get into in the first place

[68Charger]

A slight variation, they jump onto the can and then fall into the water.

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/xlcountry.com/files/2012/05/mousetrap.jpg


Add a little tech, and you see some flaws with this design... this guy did that, and came up with a better design:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4PaGvAhV9I

I don't agree with him chickening out on filming the dirty little bastards drowning, but whatever.

[rondog]

Add a little tech, and you see some flaws with this design... this guy did that, and came up with a better design:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4PaGvAhV9I

I don't agree with him chickening out on filming the dirty little bastards drowning, but whatever.

Clever! I'd like something similar for squirrels.

[TRnCO]

We use the 5 gallon bucket traps here at work. An on going never ending battle with mice. I lost count years ago how many we've caught.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I like this one and it looks like it should be adaptable for squirrels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChpMSrBbn3I

[BPTactical]

Nah: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M5-d3rZZ-_M

[00tec]

Saw this and rembered the thread

[izzy]

Saw this and rembered the thread

Should start putting those out downtown with a little piece of weed on the wire.

[Sawin]

Saw this and rembered the thread

hahaha that's awesome!

[Gman]

"What's that smell? Is somebody cooking mice again?"

[hunterhawk]

I tried one of these bucket deals and had it out for a good 2 weeks with no mice.. went back to the old victors and caught 22 in 5 days.... i have heard good things about the buckets but my mice must be too lazy to clime up the dang stick or something... i currently have a trap shy mouse.. keeps setting off the dang traps but doesn't get caught! could be a rat i suppose.... have to figure out something different! going to buy some rubber/foam strips for the bottom of my garage door because there is too big of a gap and they come right in! suppose it will help keep the garage warmer too once i do it so win win. i suppose i might try the bucket deal again to catch this trap shy sucker.

[newracer]

I have had good luck with these traps.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/main/39930/344042/jt-eaton-409-jawz-mouse-trap.jpg

[Gman]

The old Victors are pretty hard to beat. Just have to be reset for each mouse. A small piece of bacon sewed to the trigger with needle and thread with a dab of peanut butter does wonders.

[MrPrena]

Thanks to this thread, my kid and I watched lots of YouTube on mouse trap. LoL.

She wants to build one this summer.
Funny part is that she was born on year of rat.

[GilpinGuy]

I tried one of these bucket deals and had it out for a good 2 weeks with no mice.. went back to the old victors and caught 22 in 5 days.... i have heard good things about the buckets but my mice must be too lazy to clime up the dang stick or something... i currently have a trap shy mouse.. keeps setting off the dang traps but doesn't get caught! could be a rat i suppose.... have to figure out something different! going to buy some rubber/foam strips for the bottom of my garage door because there is too big of a gap and they come right in! suppose it will help keep the garage warmer too once i do it so win win. i suppose i might try the bucket deal again to catch this trap shy sucker.

I got a lot more chipmunks than mice in my bucket outside. Give the Tomcat Glue Traps (http://amzn.to/2gighRZ) a try:
68283 (http://amzn.to/2gighRZ)

Put them along the walls - mice tend to stay close to the edges of a room. The good part is you can get a bunch of mice with one trap. The old snap type traps can only get one at a time.

[Firehaus]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161213/70d4a05f6a64cd5b9b21fe249656b6e9.jpg


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[Gman]

It's like deja vu all over again.

[Rucker61]

Nah: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M5-d3rZZ-_M

Pull!

[Firehaus]

It's like deja vu all over again.

My bad. Dupe post.


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[Firehaus]

Cool snare trap for small rodents up to large game.

https://youtu.be/FXtSIqYN-rU


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[Irving]

Looks like a fun project!

[Firehaus]

Looks like a fun project!

Looks very effective. I want to see a big one used on a hog.


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[JohnnyDrama]

Looks like a fun project!

Yes it does. Gonna have to try to make one of those.

On a side note, my Grandfather used to get paid to shoot rats at a warehouse. This was before any wage laws and he was paid on a bounty system. As money was tight, he had to make every .22 short count.