Mouse infestations are unfortunately common, especially during the winter. Every year, approximately 21 million homes in the United States are invaded by mice.
Not only will mice eat the food in your home, but they’re carriers for diseases. Because of this, it’s important to get rid of mice as soon as possible.
If you’ve spotted mice — or mice droppings — in your home, you may have some questions about what it will cost to get rid of them. Below, you’ll find more information about the cost of mousetraps and other ways you can get rid of mice.
Mouse Trap Prices
The cost of mousetraps will vary based on the type of trap that you buy. Many traps on the market are disposable and relatively inexpensive.
In many cases, you’ll be spending less than $5 per trap.
With that said, some traps are significantly more expensive—some reusable traps cost upwards of $100.
When deciding how much to spend on traps, you’ll want to think about the number of mice in your home. Decide if a more expensive trap would be a worthwhile investment.
The Different Types of Mouse Traps
There are a variety of mouse traps for you to consider. Here are just a few.
Spring Traps
When people picture mousetraps, this is often what they think of. In 1894, these traps patented had a spring-loaded bar released when pressure is placed on the trip.
Typically, some sort of bait, like cheese, is used to lure in mice. These traps are very inexpensive and are frequently sold in packs.
Jaw Traps
These traps, which are typically made from plastic, consist of large jaws operated by a coiled spring. Bait is placed within the jaws, and when a mouse attempts to take the bait, the jaws clamp shut.
These traps are reusable and inexpensive, making them one of the most affordable options on the market.
Electric Traps
Electric traps use a lethal dose of electricity to kill mice. The electric charge comes from electrodes that are housed in an insulated box, which means the trap will injure no one in your home.
While these traps are slightly more expensive than the traps listed above, they are typically reusable, making them a smart investment.
Glue Traps
These trays are coated with a strong adhesive. When a mouse comes into contact with the tray, it will be completely immobilized.
Although this is considered a lethal trap, the mouse won’t be killed when stuck to the tray. Instead, the person that laid the trap will need to find a way to kill the animal.
These traps are widely considered to be inhumane and are banned or restricted in some areas.
CO2 Traps
These lethal, humane traps can kill mice using a non-toxic CO2 shot. Although these traps are reusable, they typically have a limited number of shots available.
You can usually purchase refills for these traps. These are some of the most expensive types of mousetraps on the market.
Catch and Release Traps
These non-lethal traps are designed to trap mice so that they can be safely released into the wild.
These traps can often trap more than one mouse simultaneously, making them an excellent choice for homeowners with a severe mouse infestation. While these traps usually cost somewhere between $10 to $20, there are traps available for less than $4.
Making Your Own Mousetraps
While mousetraps are usually inexpensive, there are also plenty of mousetraps that you can make at home. Many DIY traps can be made from items that you should have lying around your house.
Bucket Traps
To make this humane trap, you’ll need a large bucket, an empty can, wire, and a wood beam. You’ll also need something to use as bait.
Peanut butter is an excellent option.
Poke a hole in the bottom of your can. Run a piece of wire through the can and secure it to the top of your bucket.
Spread peanut butter or another type of bait along the rim of the can. Ensure that mice can climb into your bucket by placing a wood beam along its side.
When the mouse is near your bucket, it will climb the beam and try to reach the bait. The mouse will fall into the bucket, and it won’t get out on its own.
You’ll be free to release the mouse back into the wild. If you don’t have a wood beam available, you can use a wooden spoon or even a piece of cardboard instead.
Cardboard Tube Traps
If you’ve seen mice crawling along your kitchen counters, a trap like this could be a great solution. Take a cardboard tube like a toilet paper roll and place it along the edge of your counter.
Tape a few coins along the top of the tube to weigh it down. Place some sort of bait inside the tube, and put a bucket on the floor beneath the tube.
When a mouse tries to get to the bait in the tube, the cardboard tube will fall to the ground, trapping the mouse in the bucket below. While this trap will have to be reset if you have multiple mice to catch, it can still be very effective.
Glass Traps
This is one of the easiest DIY mousetraps to make, and it’s also highly effective.
To make a trap like this, all you need is peanut butter, a glass, and a coin. You’ll want to make sure you use a larger coin, like a nickel.
When a mouse tries to get to the peanut butter inside the glass, they’ll knock the coin loose, which will cause them to be trapped inside the glass.
You’ll want to make sure you use a larger glass for a trap like this. Otherwise, the mouse could wind up breaking free.
Using Pest Control Services
If you have a serious mouse infestation, traps may not be enough to deal with the problem.
Instead, you may have to use pest control services to get rid of the mice in your home. Average costs for pest control services are typically somewhere between $250 and $400.
How can you determine if it’s necessary to hire professionals? As a general rule, you should use a service if the problem is too severe for you to treat on your own.
If you have a few mice in your home, traps or DIY solutions should be sufficient. If your home is filled with mice, you need the help of experts.
It’s also worthwhile to hire professionals if traps haven’t worked for you.
While many people can use mousetraps successfully, they won’t take care of all infestations. If you’ve tried other solutions and haven’t been effective, it may make sense to invest in pest control services.
How to Keep Mice From Coming Back
Since getting rid of mice can be a huge hassle, you’ll want to figure out how the mice are accessing your home.
That way, you’ll be able to keep them from invading your home in the first place. Mice often look for cracks and holes in a home’s foundation. They can also access homes through windows and sewer lines.
Final Thoughts
If you have a mouse problem, you’ll want to inspect the exterior of your home to see if you can find any gaps. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for mouse droppings.
If you’re able to figure out how mice have been getting into your home, you’ll be able to block that area off, which means your property will stay mouse-free.
