How to get rid of mice humanely

Question
I have had mice nesting in my recliners for 3 years and I cannot get them out. We neither see them go in nor see them go out of the chairs. But they are in there. We can feel and hear them approaching. We can feel them run under our seats and under our arms and sometimes poke their heads out to poke us in the leg. They're driving us crazy. We cannot get them out and they are not pets. We've already had to throw out a couple of recliners and bought 2 new ones and these critters are ruining the new ones, as well. Seems as though no one knows what to do but I'm hoping you might be able to help us. Laura

Answer
Dear Laura,

What you have are mice that have learned about recliners and how lovely they are to nest in.   Not every mouse would see a recliner and know what to do with it.  They have learned that they can do these things without anything bad happening to them, and so they are bold.  You have to get rid of these clever mice.  Humanely, of course.

The most commonly used live trap for mice is the Havahart trap.  Here is a link to buy one:

http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1020

The Havahart trap is a little tricky to set but it's worth learning because it is a very effective trap.  When set right, the mice go into a little cage because they smell the (commercial, not healthy) peanut butter that you set it with, they go up to the little tray and put their paws on it to eat and the trap tips, causing the doors to close far enough behind the mouse that there's no way it can get hurt.  There's even room for its tail so it doesn't get hurt.  The disadvantage of the Havahart trap is that one mouse can spring it (though you sometimes catch two) and then it's closed and no  more mice get caught.

The other trap that I have used successfully is the Trapper 24 7:

http://www.pestmall.com/trapper-24-7-mice-trap.html

This one catches multiple mice.  It's also nice because it's sleek-looking and not obviously a mouse trap, so people can use it in an office or other more public place-- though that's not an issue of yours.  And it's simple as pie to set up.  It works in that the mouse smells the peanut butter and Triscuits that you put inside the plastic container. It goes into the container, and as it does so it walks on a little ramp which then tips it into the box.  It doesn't even really notice this and goes in and happily eats the bait, but when it wants to leave, the ramp is tipped the wrong way.  I've caught three at a time in this, and it could catch more than that.  Note: it comes with sticky glue pads.  Throw those away.

Another trap that I have seen in many places (and bought but not yet used) is the Smart Mouse Trap:

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Mouse-Trap-Humane-Mousetrap/dp/B000YFA7HW

The Smart trap isn't complicated to set either, and also works on the principle that the mouse can get in but not out.  The advantage to this one is that it's adorable, and it looks to me like it would be easy to shake the mouse out.  The other two can be a little tricky that way (the mice don't want to come out).  However, it only catches one mouse.  

There are also many live traps you can make; an internet search will bring you to many examples. There are some wildly complicated ones, but this is the simplest I have seen; all you need is a toilet paper roll and a bucket:

http://journal.chrisglass.com/2005/09/how_to_catch_a_.html

Here's one where you can feel like you are being environmentally friendly, because you are reusing a plastic soda bottle, but you still have to buy their product:

http://www.greenbottleusa.com/?gclid=CLOe-cXm3Z0CFZho5QodpmLWPA

You are lucky because you know where the mice like to go, so you know where to set the trap.  The Trapper 24 7 could even be set on the recliner seat, and the Smart Trap looks like it could too.

After you have caught the mice you can either collect them in an aquarium with a lid or even a deep bucket, to set them free all at once; or you can release them as you catch them.  If you keep them for a few days, give them crackers and fresh vegetables to eat, orange slices to quench their thirst, and crumpled paper towels or a hand towel to sleep in.  When you release them, bring them a mile and a half from your home (they can travel a mile) to a nice wooded place or meadow.  If they are in a bucket or aquarium you can gently and slowly dump them out.  If they are in traps, you may need to leave the trap there for a while to give them a chance to get bold enough to leave the trap.  The Trapper 24/7 has a lid which slides off but the mice hide under the ramps.  Actually I have pulled them gently by their tails (not the very tip or it might break off) but that may not be something you are comfortable doing; and there's always the possibility of getting bitten.  The Havahart must be turned upside down.  The Smart Trap has a door which you slide off, and because it's plastic I'm guessing it's easy to gently shake the mouse out, because there's nothing for them to grab onto.  

Another way to get rid of mice is to use an electronic device that you plug into a socket, which emits an ultrasonic sound that you can't hear, but that the mice hate.  I have never used this because I have my own pet mice!  They claim it doesn't bother a cat or dog (you obviously don't have a cat!) but I would not trust it with any other pet, and I would watch the larger pet very closely to see if there is a negative reaction.  You may only need to keep it plugged in for a few weeks to make the mice want not to come back, but I don't know.  I'm sure the instructions are clear.  This is obviously the simplest solution, but as I said I have no experience with it myself.  Here is a link for an example of this:

http://www.victorpest.com/store/rodent-control/ultrasonic-rodent-control

The last option is to hide the remote control.  When the mice realize that they can't watch TV when you are asleep, they will want to move out : ))

Best of luck!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha