How to Catch a Mouse in an Apartment

Mice are among the most troublesome, unsanitary and economically important pests in the United States. They often leave feces on surfaces, leading to contamination and illness, and they can damage electrical cords and household items. The most effective method for catching mice is the traditional spring-loaded trap. This method is ideal if there are only a few mice in your apartment. These simple and inexpensive traps are widely available at grocery and hardware stores. Poison bait, although not as effective as traps, is a fairly effective method for killing a mouse in an apartment.

Things You'll Need

  • Mousetraps
  • Peanut butter, chocolate candy, bacon or dried fruit, as bait
  • Poison bait
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Instructions

  1. Traps

    • 1

      Place bait on the mousetraps but do not set the traps yet. Use bait such as peanut butter, dried fruit, a small bit of bacon or chocolate candy. Place the mousetrap according to the following guidelines.

      This "pre-baiting" is recommended in most cases. Allowing the mouse to get the bait at least once, without the trap snapping closed, will make the mouse confident and comfortable around traps, making them more effective.

    • 2

      Bait and set the mousetraps. Be very careful not to let the trap close on your hand. Although it probably wouldn't break your fingers, it would hurt a lot.

    • 3

      Place the traps close to the apartment's walls, behind objects, in dark areas and where you've seen mice before. Use multiple traps to be most effective. Make sure that the trigger is facing the direction of travel. For example, if you are placing the trap against a wall, make sure that the trigger side is against the wall and the side holding the metal ring is away from the wall.

    • 4

      Dispose of any caught mice immediately. If you place them in your trash container, remove the trash from your apartment immediately. Do not allow dead mice to remain in traps.

    Poison

    • 5

      Purchase rodenticide from a hardware store, feed store or anywhere else pesticides are sold. Purchase only labeled products from official stores; do not purchase anything from street vendors or anything that is "homemade."

    • 6

      Put the poison bait in a tamper-resistant bait station, especially if you have pets or children. Label the bait stations clearly as a safety precaution.

    • 7

      Place the poison baits in multiple locations, and within 10 feet of each other. Place them close to wall openings or wherever you've seen mice active in the apartment. Secure the bait stations to fixed objects if possible, to prevent them from being moved.

    • 8

      Dispose of any dead mice immediately. Do not allow them to remain in the apartment.