The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word mouse trap is a piece of wood with cheese as bait. While these traditional traps still exist, we’re now at a point in time where innovations of all sorts are invented, and this includes mouse traps which now have battery-operated versions.
So what are the instructions for operating an electronic mouse trap? Knowing more about the electronic mouse trap entails understanding how to use it, how it works, how safe it is, and common mistakes you should be aware of to avoid committing them. If you’re contemplating on buying the electronic mouse trap, it’s best to learn more about it to know if it works for you.
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First thing to do is to locate the switch of the electronic mouse trap and ensure that it’s switched off. Switches usually have markings (1 for on and 0 for off) on them to indicate if it’s switched on or off and it might also hum and the LED light will be turned on if the battery is in place. This leads us to the next step in which the batteries must be removed first by removing the lid of the battery chamber to check for the batteries inside. These are important precautions to avoid the electronic mouse trap from malfunctioning upon placing the bait.
Once you’ve made sure that the electronic mouse trap is switched off and no batteries are in place, the next thing to do is to locate the kill chamber door. This part of the electronic mouse trap is located adjacent to the chamber where the batteries and the switch are. Once located, the kill chamber door must then be opened by pulling on the tab at the side.
Opening the kill chamber door reveals the area where you will be placing the bait. Most people think that cheese is the best bait for mice but on the contrary, sticky baits such as peanut butter works best because they won’t be easily removed by the mouse and thus it won’t be able to escape the detection system of the electronic mouse trap.
Since the mouse trap is electronic, it’s just intuitive that it will be battery operated. It usually needs two to four AA batteries which will be placed in the battery chamber usually in alternating position or whatever the design is.
As mentioned earlier, the device will be switched on if the switch were placed in the “1” position. To know if the device is already enabled, it will be indicated by a humming and the lighting up of the LED light. Typically, the light turns green if its battery is fully charged, while its light will change to red if it’s low on charge.
Electronic mouse traps work by luring the mouse with a bait inside its chamber. Once the mouse sets foot inside the trap, the circuit will then be completed, sending a shock through the body of the mouse. The shock is usually at 6,000-8,000 volts of electricity, a dose lethal enough to kill the mouse. This method may still be considered humane, especially since it kills the mouse instantly instead of making the animal undergo a torturous method, in comparison to glue or poisoning.
Different brands of electronic mouse traps come in different shapes and sizes. They may also be designed for single, domestic use or for multiple, commercial use. However, they all have the same basic parts which are vital in effectively catching and killing mice:
The switch is important in making the electronic mouse trap work as it’s the one that turns on or off the entire contraption. Like in any electrical-powered device, the switch is the one that regulates the flow of current in the equipment and the power source.
The power source, which is usually AA batteries in the case of electronic mouse traps, is another important part because it provides the energy through which the killing mechanism of the mouse trap relies on.
The kill chamber houses the bait which lures the pest inside the electronic mouse trap to initiate the process of killing. It’s the compartment where the mouse is trapped and subjected to a lethal dose of electricity.
An indicator, which usually comes as an LED light in electronic mouse traps, allows for the user to determine the usability of the equipment through indicating if it has a full or low battery. It also allows the user to know if the electronic mouse trap has already caught a mouse without the user having to constantly look at the insides of the mouse trap.
A safety feature ensures that despite being lethal to pests, electronic mouse traps are still safe around children, pets, and the adults who operate them. Some electronic mouse traps are even designed not to work unless it’s not yet properly set up, avoiding the risk of electrocuting the one handling it.
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As mentioned earlier, the electronic mouse trap has safety features that make it safe for children and pets. It’s now up to you to ensure that the electronic mouse trap is properly used and the instructions in its proper handling are followed in order to maximize the safety features that the manufacturers included in the electronic mouse trap.
The electronic mouse trap must be placed at a position that’s good enough to catch mice but is also not easily accessible to children and pets. Despite the electronic mouse trap being safe around children and pets, you sure wouldn’t still want to risk it by letting it lying around.
Moreover, the electronic mouse trap is only suitable for use indoors and must not be used outdoors unless specified by the manufacturer that it can be used outdoors due to waterproof capacity. You wouldn’t want your mouse trap malfunctioning and increasing the risk of electrocution of your family at the same time.
The electronic mouse trap successfully exterminates the mouse that comes in contact with it. What will be left then will be the remains of a dead animal which will undergo decomposition inside the equipment. Not cleaning the device after use will potentially pose a threat to the health of your family as it’ll be a nidus for growth of several pathogenic microorganisms. What’s more, the equipment will also have the distinctive foul odor from the decaying animal.
The electronic mouse trap is highly effective in eliminating the mice roaming around your house. However, there might be instances when the mice are still around despite you using them properly. Here are some mistakes that you might be doing if your house is still infested with mice after installing electronic mouse traps:
You might be imparting your scent to the bait and to the electronic mouse trap itself. That's why the mice are wary of them and do not get enticed to get it. This problem may be avoided by wearing gloves when handling the electronic mouse trap, such as fixing it and placing the bait inside.
Aside from being sticky and thus hard to be removed by the mice from the electronic mouse trap, peanut butter is the bait of choice over cheese because the former is more akin to the usual diet of mice that’s composed of nuts and seeds. Using the latter reduces the likelihood of trapping mice due to its easily removable nature and being less appetizing to mice than the former.
The key to successfully trapping mice is not just using the right kind of bait but also applying the right amount of it inside the electronic mouse trap. Applying too little bait may make it unnoticeable to the mice while applying too much may make the mice easily snatch the food without activating the electronic mouse trap.
Mice reproduce fast and are capable of producing several babies in just a few days. Using too few mouse traps may not be able to cover this fast reproductive rate, and the killed mice may just be instantly replaced by more babies. With that, more electronic mouse traps should be placed together in the right part of the house.
You may have been placing the electronic mouse trap in a place that is less frequented by mice, that’s why you are unable to catch them. The most important thing to remember is that mice aren’t fond of open places, that’s why it’s better to place the electronic mouse trap near the wall.
Mice are better caught the first time the electronic mouse trap is placed anywhere in the house rather than the succeeding days that the equipment stays, which may be due to the mice getting wary of it. Rather than starting slow, it’s better to plan a big event where you might want to catch as many mice as possible.
It’s a good idea to make the mice get accustomed first to the electronic mouse trap by placing it with bait but not yet set, so that you’re sure that the mice will be comfortable to the presence of the electronic mouse trap and will go back for the bait. Once the mice are no longer wary of the object, it’s now time to activate the electronic mouse trap.
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Indeed, electronic mouse traps are a convenient and effective way to kill pests. It’s a humane and safe option in killing mice. However, it also requires careful handling and there are still risks of the mice returning.
Electronic mouse traps then may be considered as just bandaid solutions in addressing anyone’s mouse problem. Still the most effective way to permanently solve it is through employing a professional pest control service. Whether in your house or in your business, PermaKill gets its job done effectively, immediately, and at a reasonable price.
Contact us now and get a free estimate for your needed pest control service.
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