The Best Mousetrap - Ever

I understand that I have built my cabin in the middle of nature, therefore entering into “their” homeland. I respect that the birds, deer, wild turkey and, yes, mice were here first.

That said, can we then agree that we need to have mutual respect? I have struck a deal with the wild among us. Be advised: I will not harm, hunt or hurt in any way anyone who is living peacefully in the wild. However, all deals are off if you scurry through my hearth room, invade my pantry shelves or make a home for yourself in my bed linens. If I find your little teeth marks on the cracker boxes or any tiny, toxic black remnants from your eat-andrun habits on my counter tops, be advised that sooner or later, I’m gonna get you.

We have thoroughly sealed our second house to the elements, but it is virtually impossible to completely prevent mice from getting in. They can fit through the smallest of spaces that you can barely see. And so we have tried a variety of products to discourage the little critters.

I found the glue traps a bit barbaric. It’s a sticky, slow death and I knew there had to be a better way. The poison traps can be dangerous if you have small, curious children or pets exploring in your home. The old-fashioned snap traps also can be a bit risky. Just ask anyone who has accidentally tripped one with their own fingers.

My number one, favorite secret weapon against the invaders is a product by Intruder Inc. called The Better Mouse Trap. My husband discovered it at our local hardware store this past summer.

The device looks a lot like the chip clips made to seal and store open chip bags. You simply load the open part of the clip with a piece of food. We use cheese or chocolate because mice seem to be very attracted to those delicacies. I set some of the traps around the perimeter of the kitchen, a couple in the bedrooms and a few in the pantry.

When the unwelcome visitor goes to retrieve the food morsel, the clip snaps closed across the neck of the mouse. It’s over in an instant.

When you come upon the closed clip, simply pinch together the opposite end and discard the deceased. Then, it is ready for immediate reloading. It’s that fast and that simple. Wash your hands and move on to the more pleasant activities of cabin living. Because face it, mice at the cabin are sometimes just part of the deal.