# Live Release Mouse Traps **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924 "2002-05-26T16:17:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/1 "2002-05-26T16:17:42Z")
Okay, so my boyfriend’s appartment has mice. He bought two mousetraps, live release, mostly because I was really not big on the idea of the sticky or snappy ones. Therefore, I have been put in charge of the release, if we ever catch one. How far away do I have to bring it so that it won’t come back? ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/2 "2002-05-26T16:54:35Z")
How close is the nearest cat? Seriously, if you have mice, traps are not the best way to get rid of the infestation. Bait or tracking powder is the way to go. I don’t know specifically how far away you’d have to go so that the mice won’t come back. If squirrels are any comparison, you’ll have to take them to Mexico. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/3 "2002-05-26T17:43:16Z")
Unfortunately, cats are not an option, as my bf is deathly allergic. That is to say, the **cat** would die, not my bf. We do also have some poison set out by the landlord, but as the mice were scurrying around out in the open where I placed the traps, I feel confident that they might indeed go into the traps. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/4 "2002-05-26T17:59:06Z")
Since you live in apartments, you could probably just mention to your landlord, and have them do something about it. They really should call in a pest control service before the mice start doing damage. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/5 "2002-05-27T00:20:41Z")
I had a mouse problem too, until Mancat moved in. I used live traps and just released the mice in the back yard (50-60ft). I wondered if they returned, so I gave then a quick spray of white paint as I let them out. Never did see a painted mouse. Too bad about the bf’s allergy. Cats really are the way to go. Of course you could get rid of the guy, and then get a cat. Better company to boot. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/6 "2002-05-27T00:51:42Z")
1. If you lay out poison, hope that the rodents don’t crawl into your walls and die. It could get smelly. 2. Your surrounding ecosystems are probably full. Introducing new residents into them is probably not especially humane. If the new residents are non-native species (Norway rat?) it’s an even worse idea. 3. I say drown 'em. Make sure you seal the trap securely with rubber bands though, or it may open when dropped into a bucket of water. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/7 "2002-05-27T01:45:17Z")
Ignore **flowbark**. Chances are the mice in the apt. are the same as the ones outside, and are not territorial. Norway rats, indeed. 😃 Mice eat a _lot_, so it really helps to put food away so they can’t get to it. Tupperware, etc works fine. They do nest, but prefer to do so close to a food source. And they don’t range very far as individuals. Get a cat. A kitten, and teach it to chase mice. If you can’t kick the bf out, give him some benadryll. Or whatever. _Real_ men aren’t allergic to cats. Or move to California. Our mice are liberals, and wouldn’t think of staying where they weren’t welcome. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/8 "2002-05-27T03:38:01Z")
Okay, with my boyfriend sitting over my shoulder: First, it’s his apartment, not mine. So kicking him out would do fairly little good, as would keeping a cat there against his will. Second, as far as smelly dead mice in the walls go, most poisons now come with an enzyme that specifically decomposes them so as to not reek (so he says). As for food lying around, the mice have infested the entire apartment block, so that’s not totally up to us. But, **mangeorge** , the paint was a brilliant idea. Thanks a lot, I guess the park down the street’ll be far enough! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/9 "2002-05-27T05:04:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LaurAnge \* > **the mice have infested the entire apartment block** Move. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/10 "2002-05-27T05:14:27Z")
An a_part_ment! Sorry, I must have read right through that part. That changes everything. Well, not everything, but one thing anyway. You’re going to have to seal every little crack and crevice (and around pipes and such) where the little buggers can get in. Mice can squeeze through the smallest places. I hear that an aerosol can of expanding foam can be effective. It is the responsibility of the landlord to fix the problem, but I know how that goes. Promises, promises. Good luck to you and your _very_ manly boyfriend. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/11 "2002-05-27T05:31:22Z")
Forget what I said, listen to the [experts](http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pchousemouse.htm) Moving is crap, imo. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/live-release-mouse-traps/110924/12 "2002-05-27T09:49:58Z")
When I or my cats catch mice I release them in the nearest open space that has some plant cover for them to hide in. In an emergency I just take them across the street and release them in my neighbor’s ivy. However, I do live in the suburbs so finding a suitable space is not hard.