I didn't consider the use of snap traps because of having to bait them with something that would be a food source for insects, but your suggestion of a cotton ball is a great idea. I also wasn't familiar with a mouse's inability to establish itself in new territory, and the thought of a small, lonely mouse wandering lost and homeless before eventually dying doesn't sound exactly humane, either does the possibility of them dying in the trap.
Thanks so much for this information, Rachael. This will certainly be helpful when considering new methods of rodent control. Cheers Helen From: 'Rapier, Rachel D' via MuseumPests <pestlist@googlegroups.com> Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 9:37 PM To: pestlist@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] [PestList] Humane mouse traps I wouldn't use bait traps because they do usually die later in the building in a place you might not be able to get to them. And on the off chance that they go outside, you can also poison predator animals like hawks or foxes. As much as I actually kind of like mice, I am not a fan of the "humane" traps because they often can still perish overnight in those traps. Or if they don't die and you relocate them, mice actually do surprisingly poorly reestablishing territories in new places and will most like die anyway (although they are at least not in your building). I personally think the snap traps are the most humane if we are managing the mice as pests because it is a near instant kill. You can tie on a cotton ball as bait because mice also forage for nesting materials as well as food. They do not suffer as much in a snap trap as they would perishing overnight from overwork or dehydration from attempting to free themselves from a live trap. And you can quickly check the traps and remove any catches promptly. For reference, I was a field biologist for several years and I mostly delt with small mammals, so I speak from a wealth of experience on mice! Rachel Rapier Museum Technician Springfield Armory National Historic Site 1 Armory Street #2 Springfield, MA 01105 (413) 271-3981 rachel_rap...@nps.gov<mailto:rachel_rap...@nps.gov>Helen Barnes Curation Officer Collections Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Birdwood Avenue Melbourne Victoria 3004 T <a href='tel:+61 3 9252 2316' style='text-decoration:none;color:#6a6a6a;border:none;'>+61 3 9252 2316</a> <a href='mailto:helen.bar...@rbg.vic.gov.au' style='text-decoration:none;color:#6a6a6a;border:none;'>helen.bar...@rbg.vic.gov.au</a> rbg.vic.gov.au We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Click here to read more about how the Gardens values inclusion.This email and any attachments may contain information that is personal, confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright. No part of it should be reproduced, adapted or communicated without the prior written consent of the sender and/or copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and remove viruses. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by return email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies. You are not authorised to use, communicate or rely on the information contained in this email. Please consider the environment before printing this email. ________________________________ From: 'Helen Barnes' via MuseumPests <pestlist@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com>> Sent: Wednesday, August 7, 2024 10:19 PM To: pestlist@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com> <pestlist@googlegroups.com<mailto:pestlist@googlegroups.com>> Subject: [EXTERNAL] [PestList] Humane mouse traps This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding. Hello All, I've read recently, humane rodent traps have been used instead of the more traditional bait traps because the users didn't want rodents eating the baits and then dying in the building. We're currently using bait traps and although I'm not aware of any finds of decomposing mice, we do have another issue of carpet beetles being attracted to the baits evidenced by large numbers of larval castings being found in the trap. Has anyone switched to using humane mouse traps and has there been any benefits or downsides to using this method of rodent control? Many thanks Helen Helen Barnes Curation Officer Collections [cid:image001.png@01DAEA56.9D766500] Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Birdwood Avenue Melbourne Victoria 3004 T +61 3 9252 2316<tel:+61%203%209252%202316> helen.bar...@rbg.vic.gov.au<mailto:helen.bar...@rbg.vic.gov.au> rbg.vic.gov.au<http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/> ________________________________ [cid:image002.png@01DAEA56.9D766500] We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Click here<https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/about-us/publications/> to read more about how the Gardens values inclusion. This email and any attachments may contain information that is personal, confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright. No part of it should be reproduced, adapted or communicated without the prior written consent of the sender and/or copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and remove viruses. 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