Catch a Rodent in Your House

If you have pets, chances are they will bring some unwanted, live "gifts" into the house every now and then. Here's an effective way to catch and release these visitors safely and humanely.

Steps

 * 1) Choose a room with a window to use as the trapping room. A smallish room with a window works best.
 * 2) Open the window in that room, and close all others in the house. The animal will hear outside sounds and will go into that room seeking the outside.
 * 3) Take the screen out of the window, as long as it is a ground-level window and you don't mind bugs flying into your house. The animal will eventually find its way to the room and will escape.
 * 4) If the window is above ground-level, or you don't want to take the screen out, place a live trap in the chosen room and bait it with a glob of peanut butter. No rodent can resist the draw of peanut butter or cheese!
 * 5) Go off and do something else. If you need to stay at home, do something quietly on the other side of the house. Eventually the animal will go into the room with the open window and will smell the peanut butter and go into the trap. Voila! Captured rodent!
 * 6) Take the rodent outside and let it go. It might be best to throw it next to your neighbors, so that it will not be a repeat customer.

Tips

 * It's a good idea to check the trap every hour or so. The poor critter shouldn't be in the trap any more than it needs to be.

Warnings

 * If you have a rodent in your house, this may be a sign that they have entered and infested the attic
 * Do realize that bringing the trapped animal to a local park is technically "relocating wildlife" which is in violation of many statutes. And, the place you bring this animal may not appreciate his presence either.

Things You'll Need

 * Live trap (a Hav-a-hart or other type) of the appropriate size for the animal you're trying to catch.
 * Victor professional rat traps for catching mice and rats
 * Peanut butter as bait for squirrels; dog food as bait for rats and mice

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Get Rid of Mice Naturally