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(More customer reviews)Okay, I read all these reviews, and expected some problems because of the 1-3 star users.But I really can't deal with the mess and unpredictable results of spring traps, or the unwelcomed surprise of running across a dead mouse somewhere when I least expect it (poison).And I am squeamish!I really wanted this thing to work.
So I called Victor (Woodstream Corp) and talked to someone in their Customer Care department.I asked her my favorite question, "Tell me all the tips that consumers are likely to miss, or misunderstand about how this thing works."And I also asked her tons of questions I had myself.Here is what I learned:
1.First and foremost, people overbait these traps BIGTIME.(See the 2nd photo provided by a customer.)If some of that huge mass of peanut butter falls onto the metal floor-plate, the trap zaps the peanut butter and de-activates!Mice can now come in and dine on the peanut butter.She said to just put a TINY dab of peanut butter on the far wall (opposite the entrance).Use a toothpick.Or spread a very thin smear of it with a knife.Mice have a very acute sense of smell, and that's what draws them in.They don't need any more bait than that.
2.The mouse has to contact BOTH metal plates in order to get zapped.And both plates have to be clean of debris.That means after you catch a mouse, take a Q-tip or whatever, and remove any hair, any little spot of urine, whatever, from the metal plates.This is not a squeamish job at all and they don't come anymore squeamish than I am!(I do shuddering freak-outs at the sight of a mouse, dead OR alive.) There was a teensy smear of liquid (I assume urine) and two hairs that had shed off the mouse.
3.Be aware that "On" means that the LINE icon side of the switch is pressed down.The CIRCLE icon pressed down means "off."People get those confused.Turn it OFF when cleaning or baiting.Turn it ON once the trap is baited, and the top door has been snapped shut.
4.The batteries go in with the flat side of the battery against the springs.And I have had battery connections with other things "not work."I had this problem continuously with a radio.Finally, it dawned on me, give a little pull on the springs.One was coiled into itself just slightly.That fixed it.You need the springs to push against the batteries enough to hold the two tight against each end.And they need to be lined up straight, not crooked.
5.When you bait the trap, close the door FIRMLY, and turn the unit on.You will see a green light BUT!!! it only stays on for 2 seconds!That green light is SUPPOSED to go off.It only goes on for the 2 seconds so that you can confirm that the unit is on, and it's working.Otherwise, if it stayed on all the time, it would eat battery life.So when it goes off, don't think, like I did, that there's an electronic failure.
6.For safety reasons, the unit is designed so that when the door (over the maze and metal plates) is open, the unit will de-activate.I have no idea how the other reviewer shocked himself, but for sure, turn the unit OFF before tinkering around with baiting, cleaning plates, or messing with the batteries.In any event, when you set the trap, bait it, then double check to make sure the door is snapped closed.Then, and only then, turn the unit on.You will see the green light for about 2 seconds, which shows you it's working and ready to go.Then the light goes out.If you open the door again (and she didn't say this but I have a feeling it's the case), turn the unit off and then on again after the door has been shut.
I LOVE these traps!I don't have to even LQQK at the mouse, let alone have my fingers anywhere near where the mouse can brush against them.Also, as much as I detest mice because they are creepy, foul, dirty, slithery little things who dart and crawl around in mucky places, I do not want to torture them!I know for a fact that three mice I caught with a snap trap had to have had pretty horrible deaths.One I heard for a solid hour, banging around, sometimes squeeling.The next morning it was dead, but it had been caught by its little nose, only!Pretty gruesome!This is much more HUMANE.It zaps them and within 5 seconds they are dead.I imagine during the 5 seconds, they are quickly rendered unconscious.This is 8,000 volts that goes into a critter that size.Quick and humane.
Oh, before I close this review?Product Guarantee!!!
If you DO have a trap malfunction after the return period allowed by your retailer, the woman told me that the company itself has a product guarantee of ONE YEAR.Keep your receipt and if anything goes wrong with the trap (obviously excluding your prying up the metal plates or whatever), they will take it back and send you a new one.
So my recommendation is the full 5 stars.I think their box-side instructions are not good enough.It says nothing about bait amount, and it says nothing about keeping the shock plates free of things like hair or droppings.It does explain the green light only stays lit for a short time, but I missed that.I'm sure others could too.
Lastly?My own advice:Get a strong flashlight and plug holes with steel wool inside cabinets, closets, anywhere you find them.Fine grade can be molded easier and tighter than coarse grade.Use silicone caulking in addition, or put it in cracks.Any mouse can crawl through a hole the size of a dime, and smaller mice can flatten out their bodies and get through 1/4" size crack!While they can chew through silicone caulking, one of the things that draws them in is the heat inside your house.(Bingo!Found that on google.)The caulking, or even expandable foam, can at least prevent them from sensing heat.Maybe even reduce their detecting the smell of food.Pay particular attention to holes cut for plumbing pipes.Stuff and caulk those, especially.
For trivia, a mouse can run 6 miles an hour, and sprint faster. It can only see 24" ahead of it, but can detect movement 45 feet away.They breed horrifically fast, I think it's 3 weeks old they can breed.
You now know everything I know about mice.And about these e-traps!
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Victor M252 Electronic Mouse TrapProduct Description: The news is that they haven't made a better mouse trap. Rather, Victor has gone and made the best mouse trap. The Victor Electronic Mouse Trap humanely and swiftly delivers a high-voltage electric charge to the rodent, killing it in seconds, with no sticky messes, snapped fingers or poisons. You'll never touch a dead or squirming mouse again. A green indicator light blinks for 24 hours to signal that a mouse has been caught, and that it's time to simply open the lid and dispose of the dead mouse. Safe to use around pets and children, the humane trap meets International Humane Kill standards. The mouse dies within 10 seconds. And, for added safety, the unit deactivates if the top door is accidentally opened. A unique tunnel design prevents mice from escaping and decreases the risk of shock to humans. The trap uses 4 AA batteries (not included), with one set of batteries exterminating about 50 mice.
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