A mouse infestation isn’t the kind of problem you want. Any kind of rodent problem is bad, but mice are so small that they can get into almost anything.
Once you know you’ve got a mouse problem, you need to figure out what type of mouse trap to use, or if you should call a pest control exterminator.
If you decide on the DIY approach, then you need to choose between snap traps and sticky traps.
Snap traps may be humane, but they’re not always effective. Mice are notorious for eating the bait or attractant right off the trigger without setting it off. If you want to find the best mouse traps, keep reading and we’ll help you.
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- What are glue traps for mice?
- Do glue traps for mice work?
- Which glue traps for mice are the best?
- And our overall #1 pick for best glue trap for mice.
If you are short on time, click here to jump right to our first choice for best mouse glue trap.
| Image | Product | |||
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Our Top Pick  | Our Top Pick | Trapper Max Glue Traps
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| View on Amazon |
 | Catchmaster Baited Rat, Mouse and Snake Glue Traps
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Tomcat Glue Traps Mouse Size with Eugenol
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Victor Tin Cat Mice Glue Boards
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Catchmaster 75M Bulk Mouse and Insect Glue Boards
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| View on Amazon | |
 | JT Eaton Stick-Em Rat/Mouse Size Double Glue Trap
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
(updated as of 04/15/2020)
- Trapper Max is a well-known brand name
- Non-toxic glue board
- Inexpensive
Trapper Max is a well-known and highly respected brand in the pest control industry. Their mouse size glue boards are an excellent non-toxic, pesticide-free method of rodent control. Their glue mouse traps will catch cockroaches, scorpions, and other pests.
The glue boards can be used flat or folded up into a trapezoidal tunnel. The scented glue smells like peanut butter, so it acts as an attractant to lure mice into it.
There is a plastic film over the glue. Once you remove the film and a mouse touches it, the super hold grabs them and won’t let go. There are 12 glue boards per package.
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Top 6 Best Glue Traps for Mice
What Are Glue Traps for Mice?
A glue trap, sticky trap, or glue board (any of them is accurate) is thin cardboard or a plastic tray covered with extremely sticky glue. Some of them are flat while others are meant to be folded into a tunnel of some kind.
When you’re working with glue traps, it might be advisable to wear some elastic gloves. If you accidentally touch the glue with your hand or fingers, it can be very difficult to get loose. It takes a lot of soap and hot water to get the residue off your hands too.
Check out the video below for more information on glue traps.
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How Do Glue Traps for Mice Work?
Somehow there has arisen a misconception that glue traps kill mice. Usually, by the time people find a mouse stuck to a glue board, the mouse is already dead so it’s easy to see how this misunderstanding came about. But the trap itself did not kill the mouse.
When a mouse steps on a glue board, they don’t have enough physical strength to overcome the stickiness of the glue. When one or more of their feet become stuck, they panic and begin flailing around.
The more they fight to get free of the glue, the more they come in contact with it. Within a few seconds, their whole body can be stuck to the glue board.
Their frantic attempts to free themselves not only makes the situation worse, but they also over-stress their heart in the process. Basically, they work themselves into a heart attack from shock, fear, and exertion.
They can also wind up covering their nose and/or mouth with glue, cutting off their airway. In that case, they suffocate to death. Either way, they die a fairly violent, painful death.
If they survive their initial encounter with the glue board, they’ll wind up dying slowly from starvation or dehydration over a period of several days, sometimes up to five days before they finally die.
Read More: Best Mouse Repellents
Warning
Glue traps are not humane. If you’re at all squeamish or concerned about treating mice humanely, a glue trap may not be the best option for you.
Are Glue Traps for Mice Effective?
Yes. As long as you place them correctly and change them on a regular basis, they are very effective.
The glue can dry out in arid climates or freeze in cold ones. It can also become dusty over time and loses its adhesive power. Insects will inevitably become stuck to it as well, so it’ll start to look nasty after a while.
As a general rule of thumb, plan on changing the glue boards in your house or office about once every three or four weeks. If the glue boards are outside, you’ll have to change them at least once a week, if not sooner.
Read More: Best Mouse Poisons
How To Use A Glue Traps for Mice
Vision Problems
Although mice aren’t blind, their vision is very blurry beyond the range of six inches. In rats, their vision has been measured at about 20/1200. You read that correctly, twenty-twelve hundred!
So, instead of their eyes, mice and rats rely on their whiskers, called vibrissae, to guide them around, in much the same way a blind man uses his can. The vibrissae work best when mice can touch the walls with them.
Rub Marks
Staying close to the walls results in mice rubbing against the walls and baseboards as they move, leaving behind dark smudges of body oil and dirt, called rub marks. The rub marks will give you visual confirmation of where the mice are and where to put your glue boards.
Placing the Traps
You’ll need to place the glue traps in the areas of mouse activity, flush against the walls. Always place two or three glue traps right next to each other in areas where you find rub marks. Also, place them in areas where you find a lot of droppings.
Because mice breed so quickly, always error on the side of too many glue boards rather than not enough. Put out new glue board traps as soon as you pick up the old ones. Keep going until you haven’t caught any mice in five or six weeks.
Baiting the Traps
If the glue board isn’t scented (some aren’t), don’t put a dab of peanut butter on it. Instead, smear a light coating of peanut butter on it. Mice have gotten very adept at eating peanut butter off of traps without getting caught.
Smearing the peanut butter on the trap entices them to get closer or try to lick it off. Either option forces them to come into contact with the glue and traps them.
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Are Glue Traps for Mice Safe Around My Pets And Children?
Not really, no. The glue on glue traps is so strong that pets and children, especially small children, can get stuck to them and panic. Their struggle to free themselves from the glue board often winds up injuring them worse than the glue board itself.
Their struggles can also range all over the house, carpets, furniture, etc., with predictable results. It can be quite a mess to clean up.
Removing a sticky board from your child’s hand or Fido’s paw can be challenging. You’ll need to use some cooking oil – vegetable oil or olive oil works best – and a lot of patience to gradually work it loose. Baby oil also works.
For these reasons, make sure you put the glue boards in places where pets and children can’t get to them.
Best Glue Traps for Mice Reviewed
- Trapper Max is a well-known brand name
- Non-toxic glue board
- Inexpensive
Trapper Max is a well-known and respected brand in the pest control industry. Their mouse size glue boards are an excellent non-toxic, pesticide-free method of rodent control. Their glue mouse traps will also catch cockroaches and scorpions.
The sticky surface of their glue boards is 4.5"X 6.5" with a 3/4" border around that. It can be used flat or folded up into a trapezoidal tunnel. The scented glue smells like peanut butter, so it acts as an attractant to lure mice to explore the glue trap.
There is a plastic film over the glue. Once you remove the film and a mouse touches it, the super hold grabs them and won’t let go. There are 12 glue boards per package.
Pros
Cons
- Catchmaster is a well-known brand
- Non-toxic
- Inexpensive
These flat black glue trays can be used flat or folded into a rectangular tunnel shape. There’s no need for baiting with peanut butter because these glue boards are pre-baited and ready to use right out of the box.
There are 12 of these catch traps per package, each one covered with a thin plastic film. They are a cost-effective way to control mice and rats, and other household pests such as ants, cockroaches, crickets, spiders, and small snakes.
The glue board catch traps are non-toxic and free of pesticides. Any mouse that steps on the glue will be caught and held, resulting in a dead mouse. The plastic tray doesn’t fold very well and it can spring out of your grasp.
Pros
Cons
- Tomcat is a well-known brand
- One of the cheapest traps
- Non-toxic
Tomcat is another well-known company. There are six traps per package for a cost of less than $1 a trap. They are non-toxic and pesticide-free. These aren’t scented trays though, so you’ll have to do your own baiting.
The glue uses Eugenol for enhanced stickiness in the glue. Eugenol is an extract from cloves that is often used to make dental cement but don’t eat, it’s not edible.
These trays are incredibly flat, just over half-an-inch high, so they can be used under refrigerators, cabinets, and other tight spaces. The traps aren’t designed to be folded though, they can only be used flat.
Pros
Cons
- Victor is a well-known brand
- 72 traps per package
- Non-toxic
This is a cardboard backed glue board that comes 72 in a box from Victor, a well-known brand. These unscented sticky boards can be used either laid flat or folded into a trapezoidal-shaped tunnel for mice to crawl through.
They are easy to fold, with a nice border to grab onto around the glue section. The glue is strong but there’s not always enough of it. Occasionally, a determined mouse will be able to get away from it.
The glue isn’t scented, so you’ll have to use your own attractant. The cardboard backing on these traps is rather porous so they have a tendency to absorb moisture, which weakens the glue.
Pros
Cons
- Catchmaster is a well-known brand
- Non-toxic
- Inexpensive
This is another, cheaper offering from Catchmaster. These cardboard backed glue boards, that come 75 to a box, use an unscented glue. They are cheap and economical, easy to use, and can be folded into a trapezoid or laid out flat.
The glue is non-toxic and free of pesticides. There isn’t any attractant on it so you’ll have to add your own. It’s easy to use and family-friendly. The cardboard can absorb moisture and warp.
Pros
Cons
- JT Eaton is a well-known brand
- Non-toxic
- Weather-resistant
JT Eaton, another well-known brand, has rat-sized glue traps that come in sealed packages of two glue boards facing each other, six packages to a box, for a total of 12 glue boards per box. They can only be used laid out flat, they don’t fold.
These glue traps have a special adhesive on them that was designed to withstand extremes of weather, including cold temperatures. This makes them ideal for use outdoors or in northern climates.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Trapper Max Glue Traps
Their glue boards are an excellent non-toxic, pesticide-free method of rodent control. The sticky surface of the glue boards is 4.5"X 6.5". They can be used flat or folded up into a trapezoidal tunnel.
The scented glue smells like peanut butter, so it acts as an attractant to lure mice to explore the glue trap. There are 12 glue boards per package, making it very inexpensive.
- Trapper Max is a well-known brand name
- Non-toxic glue board
- Inexpensive
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Final Thoughts On Glue Traps for Mice
Glue board traps are quick and easy to use. They can catch any mouse that walks on them and once the mice touch it, there’s no escaping. Glue traps are surprisingly cheap too, making them a cost-effective method of rodent pest control.
Other Mouse Guides
Curious about other mouse and rat related products? Check out our other detailed guides to help you deal with your pest problems.