Inhumane Glue Traps and Humane Alternatives to Trap Mice and Rats

There is no denying that mice are some of the most disgusting and dangerous common household pets there are. You deserve an indoor life that’s free of these pests. However, it doesn’t mean that you should get back at them by torturing them. And now you may be wondering: are glue traps humane?

Using glue traps is not humane. It causes mice to die slowly and painfully for three hours to a day or more. Some may die of suffocation, starvation, and exhaustion. Others may die of blood loss due to torn skin or limbs. To eliminate mice sans the guilt, use humane alternatives such as snap traps and humane traps.

Sharing your home with rodents is a no-no because they can wreak havoc to your belongings and health, too.

If you are looking for ways to get rid of them without inflicting pain on any living creature, keep on reading. Below you will come across some of the best alternatives to glue traps that you should give a try.

Getting to Know Glue Traps More

Also known as “glue boards”, glue traps are trays or pads that are coated with an extremely sticky type of adhesive. They are popular alternatives to traditional snap traps, which can endanger kids and pets.

How effective are glue traps for mice? Well, they are very effective. This is why many homeowners who wish to get rid of rodents and other pests get their hands on them.

Unfortunately, using glue traps is not the nicest way to deal with an infestation. You can think of them as tools for torturing mice whose only crime is being born as furry critters.

There are many ways for a mouse to die on a glue trap. It can suffocate if its nose or mouth becomes embedded in the adhesive. It can die of starvation and dehydration, too.

It can also pass away due to exhaustion for trying to flee. Before that happens, the mouse may experience the pain of breaking its bones or dislocating its joints.

Its skin may be torn off in an attempt to escape, resulting in excessive bleeding. It is possible for a mouse to also chew off its limb in an attempt to survive. That’s how cruel glue traps are!

Asking “how long does it take a mouse to die on a glue trap?” reveals just how torturous these products can really be. In some instances, a trapped mouse may die in three long hours.

If it’s unlucky, it may die in a day or more. A mouse may be a pest alright, but it doesn’t deserve to die in some of the most brutal ways possible.

Trying to Correct a Mistake

It’s when a mouse unsuspectingly crawls on a glue trap when its last few hellish memories on earth begin.

To save you from harming the animal follow these steps to free a mouse from a glue trap:

• Wear a pair of rubber gloves.
• Cover the head of the animal with a piece of cloth to help keep it calm.
• Place pieces of paper towel on the rest of the glue trap.
• Gently rub a small amount of cooking oil or baby oil into the area where the mouse is stuck.
• Continue massaging gently until the stuck body part becomes loose.

Sometimes, taking the animal stuck to a glue trap to a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator is the only way to go. Or you may spare the mouse from further agony by taking its life.

When you look for ways on how to humanely kill a mouse stuck in a trap posted on the web, it seems like there is only one solution. It’s none other than a quick blow to the head.

Some people may suggest drowning rodents. Keep in mind that drowning is a painful death — the mouse is conscious when it breathes in the water!

Humane Alternatives to Glue Traps

Just because you don’t want mice to suffer doesn’t mean that you should learn to live with them. It’s still important that you eliminate these pests from your home.

After all, not only can they damage your belongings but also put you as well as your loved ones at risk of things such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM).

However, especially if you don’t want to have sleepless nights, it’s a good idea to refrain from using glue traps that can torture not only pests but also pets!

If you are on the hunt for alternatives to glue traps that are humane, give the following a try…

Live Traps

Do you want to make sure that no animal will be harmed in your attempt to have a pest-free indoor living?

Then what you need to get your hands on live traps. Also known as “cage traps” or “catch and release traps”, they are designed to catch rodents, usually with the help of baits.

They allow you to release the trapped animals far away from your home afterward. However, just make sure that you let go the mice several miles from your home to keep them from coming back.

Here are some of the best live traps that you can order on the internet.

AB Trap Live Animal Catch and Release

Traps included: 1

Nothing can be more traditional looking than this live trap. Out of durable and corrosion-resistant metal frames and wires, it’s suitable for installation inside and outside the home.

The maker takes pride in the fact that its product keeps rodents from escaping but allows homeowners to release a trapped pest easily.

Kensizer Small Animal Live Cage

Traps included: 1

If you live in a small apartment or condominium, the importance of saving precious space cannot be stressed enough.

This is when the Kensizer live cage shines.

That’s because it measures 5.5 inches (width) x 10.5 inches (length) x 4.5 inches (height) only. There is a larger and more expensive version for catching and trapping larger animals.

Gingbau Live Trap

Traps included: 1

Out of galvanized steel, it can give any homeowner peace of mind that any trapped pest won’t be able to escape until it is brought to where it can roam free.

Just like most other live traps in the market, it has a bait hook that considerably increases the likelihood that a mouse will be attracted to enter the cage.

Havahart 1045 Live Animal Trap

Traps included: 1

Compared to the Havahart live animal trap we just talked about, this product from the same maker is more than double the price.

It doesn’t really come as a surprise since it comes with a couple of doors, which means that it can trap two or more mice at the same time.

The spacious room allows the product to accommodate a variety of small animals, too.

CaptSure Original Humane Mouse Traps

Traps included: 2

Worry not if you find traditional live traps out of metal frames and mesh unsightly.

That’s because, these days, there are many variants that are out of hard plastic.

Some examples are CaptSure mouse traps. Sold in a set of two traps, they are easy to clean. What’s more, they are resistant to odors and stains.

Humane Mouse Traps

Traps included: 2

The name says it all: these traps are a more humane way to eliminate those mice from your home.

According to its maker, one of the things that set its products apart from the rest is that they have extra air holes, which helps ensure that the trapped animal won’t suffocate.

By the way, a purchase comes with 24/7 customer support.

Traditional Snap Traps

It cannot be denied that live traps are some of the most humane traps that you can use against mice. After all, nothing dies when they are used.

Unfortunately, there is a possibility for the animal to find its way back to you. This is especially true if you set it free not too far away from your home.

Because of this, you may have to look for another solution for the infestation, particularly one that will help ensure that the same mouse won’t pester you all over again.

This is when traditional snap traps step into the scene. It’s true that using one involves killing the problem.

Check out some of the best traditional snap traps out there…

Victor M156 Mouse Traps

Traps included: 64

Just like what they say, don’t fix it if it’s not broken. Well, it’s exactly for this reason why these Victor M156 mouse traps are traditional through and through.

According to the maker, to date, it has sold over one billion of its products. Because it’s old-fashioned, there is no need to end up with a nasty headache reading a complicated user’s manual.

Although, if you need to cover a lot of spaces, then it’s cheaper to get these traps than humane ones.

d-Con Covered Mouse Traps

Traps included: 5

Do you want that mouse dead but you don’t want to see it lifeless? Then you should consider setting up some d-Con covered mouse traps in your kitchen and elsewhere in your home.

Just like what the name says, they are covered so that you don’t have to catch a glimpse of dead mice. Their covers also help fend off stolen baits.

However, in my experience, it is possible that the snap trap will only injure the rodent without killing it. Many times I have seen mice dragging a trap attached to their limbs.

Not a nice picture I’d say.

Ultrasonic Pest Repellents

While the use of snap traps is considered as humane, it still involves some bloodshed.

Especially if you don’t want to take away the life of any living creature, including a mouse that can wreak havoc to your home and health, too, then the use of snap traps is certainly not the best option for you.

Luckily, there is a DIY remedy for pests that does not involve killing an animal. But, unlike the use of live traps, it doesn’t require you to wait for mice to get caught and then set them free far away from your home.

It’s none other than the use of ultrasonic pest repellents. These electronic devices emit a sound whose frequency is too high for humans to hear. However, it can drive away mice and other pesky critters.

These are some of the top ultrasonic pest repellents around.

Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

One of the nicest things about the Neatmaster ultrasonic pest repeller is that it comes in three different modes.

The first mode (green light on) is for a mild infestation.

The second mode (blue light on) is for a moderate infestation.

The third mode (red light on) is for a severe infestation. However, the last mode creates sounds that humans can hear.

Repellers included: 1

Bocianelli Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

Repellers included: 1

If you are on a tight budget and you don’t want the monthly electric bill to soar, consider getting your hands on this ultrasonic pest repeller.

This product is designed to emit a sound that can drive away mice and other animals using less power. This electronic device can cover an area of 80 to 120 square meters (800 to 1200 sq ft).

Mos-Repel Oriflame Ultrasonic Pest Repellers

Repellers included: 6

Here’s another great deal out there: the 6-pack ultrasonic pest repellers by Mos-Repel Oriflame. According to its maker, these electronic devices are equipped with the latest dual-chip technology.

By the way, the maker also recommends installing multiple pest repellers in a single room if it’s heavily infested.

The Takeaway

Many alternatives to extremely cruel glue traps exist, and the majority of them can be easily ordered online. So, in other words, there is no reason to resort to the use of glue traps just to have a pest-free home.

After getting rid of mice through the humane method of your choice, it’s a good idea to do everything that you can to keep a reinfestation from happening once again.

Needless to say, you should rodent-proof your home. You will be surprised that some of the steps that need to be taken are quite simple. Some examples include:

• Storing opened food products in glass or heavy-duty plastic containers.
• Disposing of uneaten pet food or storing it properly.
• Placing trash in metal or heavy-duty plastic bins with tight lids.
• Removing weeds and debris around the property to minimize hiding places.
• Checking that window screens are intact.
• Keeping doors closed at all times and installing metal trims to prevent mice from entering.
• Repairing or sealing holes in the walls, especially in the garage and basement.

Just Before You Rid Your Home of Mice

Glue traps are some of the most popular tools for dealing with pests, including most especially mice. They are also some of the most effective, too, especially when baits are placed in the middle of the really sticky boards.

Unfortunately, the use of glue traps is frowned upon by many because it’s an inhumane way to eliminate rodents from your life.

You can think of these products as instruments of torture as they can cause the mice that they trap to die slowly and also painfully, such as when injuring themselves as they aggressively attempt to escape.

It’s a good thing that you can be as humane as you possibly can by using alternatives to glue traps. Many of them can kill mice instantly, thereby sparing any mouse from suffering unnecessarily in your hands.

Are glue traps humane? No one can deny that they aren’t. Above, we have talked about a variety of humane alternatives to glue traps.

Make sure that you carefully weigh the pros and cons of each one before you make a choice to make your DIY elimination of pests as compassionate as possible.

Photo credit: ©canva.com/srongkrod