Comments on: How-To: Build a better mouse trap

By: Maria

Maria — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:51:58 +0000

Watch out for that windshield wiper fluid. It’s toxic, and can cause serious damage to any critters/kids who may have access to the bucket. If you’re gonna use it in your traps, be absolutely sure they are not accessible to other animals or children. Just sayin’. Looks like a good idea over all, though. I’m gonna try building one and see if I can get the mice outta my shed. Thanks for the awesome how-to!

By: Christine Hansen

Christine Hansen — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:00:10 +0000

You can also use vinegar (it pretty much pickles them) or rv antifreeze. NOT automotive antifreeze!

By: mike

mike — Mon, 17 May 2010 00:42:21 +0000

omg this is fantastic, ingenoius lol, imma build this asap, live in the country and mice are rampant

By: Edward Wittlinger

Edward Wittlinger — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:49:47 +0000

I can’t wait to build my own. I do have a few mice in my home that came in over the winter month. This is a great idea. After a few beers with the neighbors I will show them my new trap, and go down as the smartest guy on the street.

By: Cory Spaulding

Cory Spaulding — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:05:28 +0000

I once took calcium cloride and hung it in a grain bag over a 55 gallon drum. I used this to keep the humidiy down in a building. When the cloride absorbed water it dripped out of the grain bag into the drum. The solution that was created was clear and did not freeze. Mice and squirrels somehow fell into the drum. In the spring when I checked on things, I had a lot of perfectly preserved bodies in the solution. They did not decay. I poured them out and did it again the next year. I am going to modify my barrel with the tin cans to increase the mouse production. I assume the squirrel died from hypothermia after falling into the 10 degree solution. This solution would work good in your idea in that it can be left long term.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:50:48 +0000

Put a rock in the bottom of the trap so that it sticks out of the water, making a little island for the first mouse to hang out on. When a second mouse falls into the pail, it’ll fight the first for the dry spot on the rock. The noise of the two mice fighting will attract more mice to your trap.

I also recommend adding a squirt of dish washing soap to the water as well–it breaks the surface tension of the water and helps the mice drown quicker.