How the trap works: The door is held open by a rod outside the trap that is temporarily attached to the bait hook, when the mouse starts to eat the bait the rod drops off the eye on the hook, closing the door behind him.
Setting the trap: Simply attach the bait to the hook inside the trap, we recommend crunchy peanut butter as the most effective bait, you may also mix in some bird seed. Chocolate, sunflower seeds, nuts, apple or cake are very effective also, but the trick is to attach them to the hook.
Cheese may work but it’s not as effective as the story books tell us. If the peanut butter is not holding onto the hook, use some cardboard or cheese to get a firm grip on the hook and then paste with peanut butter or other bait.
If it's not your intention to release the catch, simply mix rat poison with the bait.
The trap should be positioned where mice are known to be active, or where droppings and smells have been found. Rodents tend to run along skirting boards so place the trap close to a wall where you think they are running.
It’s now time to set the trap.
- Attached to top of the trap is the trip rod, pivot this rod so that it projects over the edge of the trap.
- Open the door with one hand so that the trip rod is inside the extension handle that now lays flat on the trap roof
- Then with the other hand pivot the rod 180 degrees so it now lays over the door extension.
- The rod will just reach the eye on the top of the bait hook. Carefully insert the rod into the eye and release just enough pressure on the door extension to be sure the door will not snap closed until the rodent, while eating the bait dislodges the rod and allowing the springs to close the door.
Releasing the rodent (if that’s your intent):
Now it's time to go for a walk or a drive and be kind to your little furry friend by finding a safe place to release him. A bush area is ideal. We would recommend at least one km away from your house so he can't find it's way back.
Unlatch the lid and the rodent should run straight, kids love to see it. YOU NEVER NEED TO TOUCH THE MOUSE
If you are not having success!
Rodents will eat almost anything including cardboard, so peanut butter etc in the trap should work perfectly. However, if you have another food source that is more attractive or easier to get to, he thinks why go down a new tunnel when my favorite food is still available.
Identify the food source the mouse/mice are eating and take that source away to make him hungry, and then place some of that food in the trap in same position so when they next visit there will be the food, but now it’s in the trap.
Also consider dabbing concentrated peppermint oil bought from a pharmacy on a few cotton wool buds and distribute then near their favorite hideouts and current food sources. We are told that this will turn mice away from these areas
Please remember you must empty the trap every day if you want to keep the rodent healthy
