Homemade Traps: Catch and Release Strategies for Annoying Pests

As soon as you notice signs of nuisance pests in your Pittsburgh property, you should act fast to get rid of them. A safer alternative to store-bought snap traps or electric mouse traps, homemade catch-and-release traps are an effective form of DIY pest control to provide rodent relief until professionals arrive. Here are a few types of homemade traps that can temporarily ease your growing pest problem.

DIY Pest Control Trapping Methods

• Bucket Trap: The bucket trap is one of the easiest DIY traps to make. Simply place a bucket over a location you suspect the pests are frequenting, and rest a piece of lumber as a “ramp” to the top of the bucket. Bait the trap with a line of peanut butter or sunflower seeds. Once the rodents smell the bait, they’ll climb up the lumber ramp and fall in. To ensure they slide in and can’t get out, take a sheet of thick material such as contractor’s paper, wrap it around the lid of the bucket, and secure it with duct tape or twine. Cut an “X” in the center of the paper, so the critters have a place to fall in.
  
• Can Trap: This DIY pest control method will effectively lure rodents in for catch-and-release. Start by drilling two holes in an empty soda can. Unwind a wire coat hanger until you have a straight wire rod, and thread it through the can. Attach the wire to the top of a bucket or large container, and bait your trap by covering the can in peanut butter. The bait is at eye-level on the trap, so the pests are more likely to fall in by walking on a suspended wire.
  
• Paper Plate Trap: Cut a paper plate in half and poke two holes near the flat edge roughly an inch apart. Thread some string through the holes, leaving it taut. Tie the ends of the strings on opposite sides of a bucket, and spread bait on one end of the plate while placing a small piece of wood or pencil on the other. As the pests move toward the baited end of the plate, their weight will tip the plate and drop them into the bucket.

The Problem with DIY Pest Control

While DIY pest control may be an effective temporary solution, it’s not a permanent answer to your pest problems. While baited live capture traps will humanely contain pests until they can be released in a safe location away from your property, they must be monitored regularly so the caught pests can be released before they starve. Furthermore, attempting to handle or remove invasive pests yourself can put your well-being at risk as many pests will bite or scratch and are carriers of infectious diseases. That’s why you should instead rely on the effective, safe, and humane services provided by the licensed and trained wildlife removal experts at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh.

Professional Pest Control Services Near You

The experienced pest control technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will quickly and safely remove nuisance pests and other invasive wildlife from your Pennsylvania property and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our fast and efficient pest control services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.