They die of starvation - mice need to eat constantly. I don't like these "humane" traps. They stress the animal and by letting them loose one is breaking the law since they are vermin.

The old-fashioned snap trap is much more humane and deals with the problem rapidly.

beccabunga writes


They die of starvation - mice need to eat constantly. I don't like
these "humane" traps. They stress the animal and by letting them loose
one is breaking the law since they are vermin.

Googling reveals a number of councils which recommend humane traps and
release, eg Bexley:

"Are there kinder methods?

Yes. You can use a humane trap. Put some chocolate or peanut butter
(mice do not like cheese) into the plastic trap, which will close behind
the mouse leaving it trapped but not dead. It is then up to you to
release it. Mice will return if not released far enough away from your
home."

The only provisions against release into the wild that I can find are
for animals which are not regarded as UK wildlife, eg grey squirrels.

There also does not seem to be a legal definition of vermin (and hence
no legislation against releasing 'vermin' into the wild) - from Hansard:

"8 Oct 2003 : Column WA60
Vermin

Lord Selsdon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which mammals and other animals are classified as
"vermin".[HL4559]

Lord Whitty: There is no definition of the term "vermin" in UK law. In
such a situation the Oxford Dictionary definition should be applied.

The Oxford Dictionary defines "vermin" as "Animals of a noxious or
objectionable kind. Originally applied to reptiles, stealthy, or slinky
animals, and various wild beasts; now, excluding in US and Australia,
almost entirely restricted to those animals or birds which prey upon
preserved game . . ."

The Small Ground Vermin Traps Order 1958 and the various Spring Traps
Approval Orders, refer to "small ground vermin". Neither the orders nor
the Pests Act 1954, under which they are made, define this term or
provide an exclusive list of species. However, the following animals are
listed under various orders: moles, grey squirrels, rabbits, mink,
stoats, weasels, rabbits, rats, and mice.

Traps approved under the Spring Traps Approval Order 1995 do not apply
to small ground vermin listed in Schedules 5 and 6 to the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981. This means that red squirrels, dormice, water
voles, shrews, hedgehogs, polecats and a number of other species are
excluded."


--
Kay

"Martin" wrote in message
...


We caught the mouse that had shared food with our cat all winter with a
humane
mouse trap. A plastic thing that tips up and a hatch closes when a mouse
tries
to eat the bait. The poor little thing died of a heart attack. Not at all
humane.
--

Martin


Here's a link to view something that shares food with my felines :-)

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...lessfood-1.jpg

"rabc" wrote in message
...

Just been informed of my next door neighbour that the other evening they
spotted what they think was a mouse crawling up my outside wall where
too they do not know, do mice or rats climb up walls .....have assured
the missus that i will get some mouse traps, where do i position them
and what bait is best.....CHEERS


I would not worry about a mouse outside, that's where they live after all.

"beccabunga" wrote in message
...

'Martin[_2_ Wrote:
;851454']

We caught the mouse that had shared food with our cat all winter with a
humane
mouse trap. A plastic thing that tips up and a hatch closes when a
mouse tries
to eat the bait. The poor little thing died of a heart attack. Not at
all
humane.
--

Martin

They die of starvation - mice need to eat constantly. I don't like
these "humane" traps. They stress the animal and by letting them loose
one is breaking the law since they are vermin.

The old-fashioned snap trap is much more humane and deals with the
problem rapidly.


It is not true that it's against the law to let vermin loose after being
live-trapped. That only applies to non-native species like grey squirrels.
I had great success in catching mice in the house with a catch-alive trap
which was mainly made out of perforated zinc. I put plenty of food in it
and the mice were always alive in the morning. The one time I used a
plastic one like a tube with a snap shut door the mouse was dead in the
morning and was wet (lack of ventilation?)
I now have a cat so haven't needed a trap for some time. Mind you, I would
not attempt to trap a mouse that was outside - it doesn't seem fair as it's
their own habitat after all.

Tina

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...


It is not true that it's against the law to let vermin loose after being
live-trapped. That only applies to non-native species like grey
squirrels.
I had great success in catching mice in the house with a catch-alive trap
which was mainly made out of perforated zinc. I put plenty of food in it
and the mice were always alive in the morning. The one time I used a
plastic one like a tube with a snap shut door the mouse was dead in the
morning and was wet (lack of ventilation?)
I now have a cat so haven't needed a trap for some time. Mind you, I
would not attempt to trap a mouse that was outside - it doesn't seem fair
as it's their own habitat after all.



I have found the electronic (six in one) pest repellents very effective in
my greenhouse.

http://www.bid.tv/ProductDescription...ype=Categories

(Ch 23)
They were about £20 Incl Post for two and the mice population has melted
away since I installed them this year.
Last year I tried the poison method which was messy and not very successful.

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com