Mouse trap Mice are an extremely well adapted species toward living in human structures.  They live commensally with people, are used in laboratory experiments, and are a fairly popular pet.  Unfortunately, they can be quite a nuisance, and have a knack for getting into places they shouldn’t be.  Also, it was on mice and other rodents that the fleas carrying the dreaded black plague virus found there way into our homes during the middle ages, causing the widespread deaths throughout the Mediterranean and European regions in that period.  Though the plague is no longer an issue in most parts of the world, mice still carry various diseases today, and for this reason mice have long been considered pests. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.”  Although the famous author was referring to human innovation in general, there have indeed been a number of different mousetraps invented over the years.  The most famous mousetrap, seen in slapstick comedies and cartoon’s like ‘Tom and Jerry’, was invented by the American/British inventor Hiram Maxim toward the end of the 19th century.  The device has a spring-loaded bar that snaps down onto the mouse when it steps onto a pressure sensitive plate containing some kind of bait.  The bait used in these mousetraps has a lot to do with the likelihood of their success.  In the cartoons and other comedies, cheese is usually the bait, however most mice don’t actually like cheese.  Peanut butter, chocolate, bread or even meat will all work better.  Regardless of the bait, the traps are not foolproof.  A clever mouse may be able to remove the bait without springing the trap.  There are many other mousetraps available that are more effective, and more humane, than one made by Maxim.  One effective trap involves using strips of a highly adhesive substance.  The bait is placed on the strip, and the mouse then becomes stuck fast to the trap.  Alternatively, there are versions that involve trapping the mouse inside a cage or other container.  In these kinds of traps, the mouse is caught alive and can be released into the wild more or less unharmed.  Just make sure you release the rodent far away from your home, because they have good homing instincts and a great sense of direction.  Other variants include using strychnine or other poisons, or electricity to kill the rodent.  Because of its high toxicity, poisons are normally used anymore but electrical traps are still popular.  There are many different mousetraps available, there are plenty to choose from that will suit you depending on what your needs are.  Personally, I prefer the non-lethal types.  Not only do they seem to work better, but they are also more pet-friendly.