Humane Mouse Traps, 12 inches Enlarged No Kill Rat Live Traps for Chipmunks, Reusable Catch and Release Mice, Pet and Children Friendly Mouse Trap That Work (2)

The best part of the design of this trap is that the pedal that the animal triggers is toward the back, which leaves lots of room for the mouse (or even a much larger rat) to get her whole tail inside before the door shuts, but it is not all the way in the back. This allows me to place a very heavy piece of bait past the pedal. The mouse must cross the pedal to get to the bait. If an animal is heavy enough, it will trigger the door.Baby mice weigh almost nothing, however. So with other traps we had problems catching babies. The best ones for baby mice, the Victor Tomcat Live Trap, are difficult to set up to catch babies: the bait must be placed exactly in the middle of the trap, and must weigh no more or less than is necessary to add to the weight of the baby. The trap operates by rocking with the weight of the animal, like a seesaw, so the bait needed to be placed exactly on the fulcrum--not easy to do in such a tiny trap that was all black. We often caught TWO baby mice simultaneously in the Tomcats due to their combined weights, but more often the bait was taken by someone very tiny, and no mouse was captured. Or else they triggered the trap that we deliberately set on a hair-trigger, without entering it. This was very inconvenient, because we walked all the way outside with a triggered trap, only to learn that no mouse was inside. So far we have not had bait stolen or partially eaten without catching a mouse, and the door has never been triggered without a mouse caught.The vast majority of live traps have a pedal that goes all the way to the back, so everywhere I placed the bait triggered the trap. But if I didn't place the bait on the pedal, then a baby mouse would not be heavy enough to trigger the trap. And these traps wear out very quickly due to the fact that the mechanism that sets the trap is nothing more than the friction of the tip of the hinged door against the pedal. We could catch 4 or 5 mice before the trap wore out and wasn't reparable.So with these traps, the way to catch tiny baby mice is by placing a piece of bait that is itself heavy enough to trigger the trap, all the way in the back past the pedal. Mice tend to want to take food back to their nests rather than sit and eat it in place. So when the mouse tries to drag the bait out of the trap, the bait itself triggers the door to close. And even if the mouse stuffs herself while sitting in the trap, she is then heavy enough to trigger the door when she tries to leave. Perfect!This part of the design is either an accident, or the people who wrote the ad and the instructions don't realize that this is the key to catching weightless animals. They suggest adding coins to the pedal. But this is really a pain, especially when you have to keep releasing mice and resetting the trap for a big population. Don't add coins. All you have to do is use a big piece of bait: a quarter of an apple, say, or a snack-sized candy bar, half a normal sized candy bar, etc.For our baits, we use an entire little birth-control "snausage", also available on Amazon. Each snausage link weighs about twice what an adult mouse weighs, so there is literally no way for anyone to steal a bait and get past the trigger pedal with it. While they are waiting for us to release them, the mice consume the birth-control-infused snausage; when we release them into our yard, we dump the snausage too, so they and their friends can continue to eat it. The snausages are "Evolve Cottonseed Oil-Based Soft Bait Contraceptive for Mice" at this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D47T6LCQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 It's kind of expensive but when you're already at 30 mouse-releases and you know that if the mice get to the neighbors' yards they will just be brutally murdered, it's totally worth it. Once the mice are gone from under my foundation, I will set up little feeding stations in some mouse-sized PVC tubes with the leftovers. They are welcome to live in our yard, but they need to reproduce more responsibly. :)Other design pro's: The trap is extremely easy to set without accidentally triggering it while I'm handling it: I just hold it with the door open to the ceiling, drop a large piece of food in, set it upright, no fussing and balancing required due to the rachet-style mechanism that holds the door open until triggered from inside. The trap is clear, so it's easy to see if there is a mouse inside (BONUS: we get to see the adorable mouse before it vanishes into our dark garden). The door is black, so you can see from across the room whether it has been triggered. The large size means that a trapped mouse is not so uncomfortable as it is in smaller traps. I love how easy it is to open the trap for release, which is pretty rare for live traps, even the big wire ones. It's easy to give it a blast with the garden hose to clean up for the next guest. I like that the lever that holds the door open, which is on the outside, is at least partially covered by thick plastic to protect from breakage, chewing, and accidental triggering. The trap is versatile: if rats get in some day, we can use the trap to catch them. I almost didn't buy the trap because I thought they were trying to target too many differently-weighted animals, but as desribed above, there are simple and integrated ways to work with tiny animals.Design con's: For me as a human, the size is more awkward because it limits how and where I can place the trap in small spaces, but the pro's outweigh this con. This material is not very resilient to dropping, so I feel like I have to be very careful with it. I don't know how I would repair the door lever or other plastic pieces if they cracked off--tricky.Overall, of the 5 different kinds of live traps we've used, these are the best on measures of ease of setting, placement, baiting, counter-weighting, alerting us to an existing guest, cleaning and checking for cleanliness, seeing whether bait is still inside the trap, and avoiding false triggering.

Thank God for this product. My crazy psycho cat had brought in a chipmunk and it had been living in my house for at least a month. I tried everything to catch it, but I came to the inevitable conclusion, you cannot catch a chipmunk by hand. So…. That’s when this trap came in handy. I ordered it, threw in some peanut butter and set 2 of them up in my house. Well day 2 I kept hearing this odd noise in the kitchen. I jumped up and hollered, omg I had forgotten about the trap and yup it was this little cutie that we will call Alvin, was chillin in the trap noshing on the peanut better. I was so happy I caught him without harm. So I let him go outside but he was reluctant to leave due to the peanut butter. Lol needless to say, this trap worked great!

Why did you pick this product vs others?:This is a well-made, easy to set trap that is also easy to let your live captives free. I've caught 10 mice to date and neither trap has suffered any damage from gnawing. Each time I caught a mouse, the inside of the trap has gotten pretty dirty so you might want to have a bottle brush on hand for cleaning. Some reviews correctly state that very lightweight critters can take the bait without being caught and I agree because I had this happen several times. Here's my fix. With the back door off and the trap set, add the bait to the tray and then very lightly press the trigger plate with your finger - just enough to get it very close to triggering without triggering. This makes it more sensitive and thus less weight will be needed to set it off. It might take some practice but you'll get the hang of it quickly enough. Gently attach the back door and place the trap into position.

I purchased the IIWEY Humane Mouse Traps (12 inches, 2-Pack) to address a persistent chipmunk issue around our rural property. With pets and children frequently in the yard, I needed a safe, humane solution that wouldn’t harm the animals or pose risks to my family. After using these traps for several weeks, I’m thoroughly impressed.Why I Chose This TrapLiving in a wooded area, we often encounter chipmunks and mice near our home. Traditional snap traps weren’t an option due to safety concerns, and I wanted to avoid using poisons that could endanger pets and wildlife. The IIWEY traps offered a humane, non-lethal alternative that was both effective and safe for our household.ProsSpacious Design: At 12 inches long, these traps provide ample space, ensuring that animals don’t get their tails caught—a common issue with smaller traps.Humane and Safe: The traps are designed to capture without harm, and the external locking mechanism prevents escapes. They’re also pet- and child-friendly, making them ideal for households with young ones.Easy to Use and Clean: Setting the trap is straightforward—just add bait and open the door. Cleaning is simple; a quick rinse and dry, and it’s ready for reuse.Durable Construction: Made with reinforced iron sheets, the traps are sturdy and resistant to chewing, unlike some plastic alternatives.Effective Trigger Mechanism: The sensitive pedal requires minimal weight to activate, ensuring successful captures without the need for additional weights.ConsOccasional Escapes with Larger Rodents: Some users have reported that larger animals, like rats, may escape if the trap is not placed on a flat surface or if the trigger mechanism is not properly adjusted.Requires Regular Monitoring: To prevent animals from chewing their way out, it's essential to check the traps frequently, especially in areas with high rodent activity.Tips for Optimal UseUse Appropriate Bait: Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, or unsalted almonds work well to attract rodents.Place on Flat Surfaces: Ensure the trap is on level ground to prevent premature triggering or escapes.Check Frequently: Inspect the traps at least twice a day to ensure timely release and prevent stress to the captured animal.Ideal ForThese traps are perfect for homeowners, gardeners, or anyone dealing with rodent issues in areas where humane methods are preferred. They’re especially suitable for families with children and pets, providing peace of mind while effectively addressing rodent concerns.In conclusion, the IIWEY Humane Mouse Traps have been an invaluable addition to our pest control strategy. They’re effective, humane, and safe for our family and the environment. If you're seeking a reliable and ethical solution to rodent problems, I highly recommend giving these traps a try.