Glueboards and Mice

Lots of people and pest control operators use glueboards to control house mice (Mus musculus). But have you ever wondered if they are very efficient at catching mice?

Glueboards not the Most Efficient Mouse Traps

Dr. Robert Corrigan performed some research at Purdue University and discovered that glueboards really aren’t that good at catching mice.  In a publication entitled “The Efficacy of Glue Traps against Wild Populations of House Mice, Mus domesticus, Rutty” in the Proceedings of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1998), he says that while mice do get caught in glueboards, the fact is that the one’s that get caught are like young mice or mice that were travelling according to muscle memory and therefore were not paying attention enough to avoid the trap.

Corrigan also explained that house mice frequently learn to avoid the devices as proven by the number of observed accounts where hairs of mice are found on the boards (suggesting escapes).  Furthermore, mice eat insects (e.g. cockroaches) caught on glueboards and thereby become educated to their effect.

Bottomline

If you wish to control mice on a property, glueboards are just not that good at getting the job done. You are much better off using snap traps or other devices to capture mice.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Click the links for past {shows} and {interviews}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to [email protected] Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.