A Live and Let Live Mousetrap

(Page 2 of 2)

September/October 1980
By John Krill 
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So I took an old boiler I had on the place (any deep bucket or tub would have done the job) and sank it part way in the ground. Next I situated a board so that it formed a gentle incline from the ground to the lip of the tub, and then scattered cornmeal and whole grains on the bottom of the boiler and along the length of the board. Past experience told me the mice would readily climb the board and leap into the container after the bait, never thinking that they wouldn't be able to climb back out!

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The morning after I "set" my trap, I was tickled to find ten fat and saucy field mice caught in the simple contrivance. I merely placed the boiler—captives and all—in my car and drove to an unpopulated wooded area some distance away, where I released them . . . something I continued to do with each succeeding batch.

One word of caution: Users of "kettle" traps will find that an occasional skunk, opossum, or woodchuck will find its way into the pan. It's always best to approach the trap carefully . .. and, if you find an unwanted prisoner, simply slide a short board into the tub to make a ramp, and then walk away. The "outsider" will quickly take advantage of its newfound escape route, and you can then rebait the setup for continuing mouse collection.

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