ICE Chips

Q.  We recently had several mice invade our warehouse. We have mechanical traps along the walls but we still find droppings in some locations. Our pest control contractor wants to put in snap traps and check them on a daily basis. We got a second opinion from another contractor and they want to use glue boards and check them weekly. They reasoned that the snap traps are old technology and really don’t work well. What’s the best method for us?

A. For some reason, snap traps have become thought of as old, ineffective technology. This is far from the truth. Snap traps have been around for a long time and the main reason for this is that they are very effective in the hands of a trained professional. They are a very reliable method to quickly eliminate a small population.

Part of the reason snap traps have fallen from favor is that other mechanical traps provide more convenience and the results of a capture are hidden. These devices do work well but they have limitations, as do all devices. It would surprise many to find out that some mice will not enter mechanical traps and will not step onto a glue board. A combination of several devices is needed to get rid of a mouse population quickly.

The first step to eliminate the mice is to thoroughly inspect the facility to identify areas where the activity is present. The inspection should help to identify existing conditions that could be contributing to sustaining the infestation, so that corrections can be taken to put pressure on the population. Then, the information should be reviewed and the trap location should be planned accordingly.

Your professional contractor should have a good understanding of the biology and behavior of the mouse and use that knowledge to strategically place snap traps and other devices.

The service required for snap traps is more intense, but well worth the effort because the results eliminate the issue quickly. There will be numerous traps in place, and it will require time to check them. The prevention of customer complaints and regulatory action and fewer products contaminated by mice make the effort worthwhile and perhaps more cost-effective in the long run.

Lance Reeve is Global Manager, Food Safety Services Innovation, AIB International.