Maybe it's just the Xmas. spirit talking but is this line of discussion for real?
We are talking about mice here. I lost track, I think the original start was something about checking for insect with glue traps... and then moved into mice being stuck on glue traps? I had to reply after I read through the last 10+ messages all singing the praises of ways to remove mice from glue traps.
If a mouse is in a glue trap baited or not that is a stupid mouse and we are doing the species a favor in eliminating it. I have used all the traps, whether in work places or places I have lived through the years and the live traps are only good for maybe two or three times (at least once I swear it was the same mouse caught a second time around too), the snap traps are not always so humane, I have seen mice escape a trap, even when I heard the trap go off and went to check right away, only to find a mouse a few days later, obviously killed by a broken back.
The glue traps, are by far the best, most efficient and quick way to kill mice. I know some of you who wrote before are gasping now, but really, one mouse may be cute (especially if it is living outside where it belongs), a couple may be a slight annoyance, but if you have two then three and you don't stop their point of entry and start eliminating the mice already inside, you will have a multitude and that is not a pretty picture. I had a house have a break out of mice, and it was only a full scale assault via live traps first and then glue traps, along with finally finding a hole in the wall at ground level that was their entry, that finally eliminated the mice.
As for live traps let me relate a true story- that house I mentioned above- had a few mice over the Thanksgiving weekend including one who was found helping itself to a plate of mac and cheese on the kitchen counter. Later that day we caught a very, very fat mouse in a live trap, I took it a block over to a park with a stream to release it. The mouse ran about 15 feet, then (I swear this is true) fell over and rolled into the creek. It was definitely a rodent holiday related heart attack.
The alternative Melissa Duffes asked for below- if you want to eliminate mice inside- use the glue traps and hold the mayo.

Not even a fan of Mickey
Chris Taylor
Atchison County Historical Society
Atchison, Kansas - Kansas where the only good mouse is one living in a field



Melissa Duffes wrote:
Karen,

I have been struggling with this problem as well. When I first came to my
house three months ago sticky traps were being used and staff were placing
the traps (& live mice) in a plastic grocery bag for disposal. No, it is not
a nice way to die. Mineral oil is supposed to loosen the mouse from the
glue, but this takes a very long time and can cause further harm if not done
very gently (I have been most successful with mayonnaise, but it was pointed
out to me that releasing a mayo-covered mouse into the wild was just
providing an extra-tasty snack for the local predators). I can't abandon the
traps altogether as I still need to monitor insects, but the live cage traps
I bought a few weeks ago can be very messy and hard to clean (not to mention
the fact that a peanut butter-covered mouse in the woods is probably just as
popular as a mayo-flavored one). I am thinking of resorting to those
electronic frequency things, but I'm not if they work at all.

I'd also love to hear any alternatives from list members!



Melissa Duffes
Assistant Coordinator
Historic Green Spring
4603 Green Spring Road
Alexandria, VA 22301
703-941-7987
[log in to unmask]



----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Duncan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: sticky traps


  
As a card carrying member of the Bleeding Heart Tree Huggers, I have to
ask: Is anyone else concerned about the potential cruelty of these
sticky traps? Of course we must monitor our spaces for damaging pests,
and OK, I can see them for insects, especially with close monitoring.
But it concerns me on several different levels (practical; ethical,
etc.) to think of mice stuck in them and dying slowly. Can't be a decent
way to die. And carcasses attract insects! I'm not trying to begin a big
ethical discussion but would like the list to know about any
alternatives that people might be using. Anyone?

Peace and love,

Karen Duncan
Registrar
Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum
University of Minnesota
333 E. River Rd.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
T: 612.625.9665
F: 612.625.9630
E: [log in to unmask]

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