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Mouse and Rat Traps in Canada: Snap, Wood, Glue or Live-Catch?

Health Canada's guidelines for sizing, placing, baiting and checking mouse and rat traps, and the snap, wooden, glue and live-catch traps we list.

Short answer: Health Canada's pest-control page on rats and mice says to match the trap to the animal ("a rat trap is too large to kill a mouse"), to "Follow the manufacturer's directions on how to use a particular trap", to "Set 1 trap per metre (yard) along walls, or 5 to 10 traps per visible mouse hole", and that "It is important to check all types of traps daily." Below: the trap types we list, sorted by mouse or rat, and Health Canada's general guidelines for setting, baiting, checking and cleaning up.

Which mouse and rat traps do we carry?

Snap traps (plastic)

Wooden snap traps

Glue traps and glue boards

Live-catch and multi-catch mouse traps

Health Canada describes live traps this way: "Live traps have trap doors that are triggered when rats or mice walk over them." None of the traps above is a pesticide, so none carries a PCP number; the directions that count are the ones on each package.

The whole range is in Mouse & Rat Control.

Mouse trap or rat trap: does the size matter?

Yes. Health Canada's page says "Knowing the type of pest you have can help you figure out the best approach to controlling them" and gives the example that "a rat trap is too large to kill a mouse." Most of the traps above are named as mouse traps or rat traps; buy the one named for the animal you have.

The same page describes the animals. For mice: "The deer mouse is brown or grey with a white belly and feet." and "It may invade buildings near fields and woodlands in the fall." For rats: "A rat is larger than a mouse and can weigh up to 0.5 kilograms (1 pound)."

Where and how many traps should you set?

Health Canada's general guidelines, word for word:

  • "Most traps without covers should be set at right angles to the wall, with the baited end of the trap closest to the wall."
  • "Some traps (like electronic traps and covered snap traps) should be set with the entrance parallel and flush against the wall."
  • "Set 1 trap per metre (yard) along walls, or 5 to 10 traps per visible mouse hole."

What is the best bait for a mouse trap?

Health Canada lists: "Use baits of strong-smelling, sticky foods like peanut butter, bacon grease mixed with oats, raisins, or gumdrops."

It also suggests a pre-baiting period: "Allow a warm-up period of 3 to 4 days (bait the traps but do not set them), so that the rats or mice become comfortable taking the bait."

How often should you check traps, and when should you move them?

  • "It is important to check all types of traps daily."
  • "Move traps to different locations if the bait does not disappear regularly."
  • "Reset the traps in 2 to 3 weeks to catch maturing rats and mice."

The daily check applies to live-catch and multi-catch traps as much as to snap and glue traps.

Do glue traps need bait?

Not necessarily. Health Canada says "Glue traps are also available and can be used with or without bait." Follow the directions printed on the glue trap or board you buy, and check them daily like any other trap.

How do you clean up after a trapped mouse or rat?

From the same Health Canada page:

  • "Wear rubber gloves and a dust mask during cleanup."
  • "Dampen droppings and debris with a solution of bleach and water before wiping up."
  • "Double bag the bodies of dead rats and mice in plastic bags and put in a garbage bin with a secure lid."
  • "Wash hands and exposed clothing thoroughly after clean-up, and separate from other laundry."
  • "Never sweep or vacuum dry droppings. The dust that is raised can cause illness."

Alberta's own hantavirus clean-up steps (ventilating first, the bleach ratio and how long to let it sit) are quoted in our guide How to Keep Mice Out of an RV, Camper or Trailer Over Winter: What the Labels Allow (read it here).

How do you keep mice out in the first place?

Health Canada says "Prevention is key in controlling rats and mice problems in your home." It gives the gap sizes to look for: "Mice can squeeze through cracks as small as a dime, while rats can enter through a quarter-sized hole." Its list includes:

  • "Use metal weather stripping under doors, and weather strip windows."
  • "Stuff steel wool around pipes before caulking or plastering."
  • "Cover dryer vents, attic vents, and soffits with fine mesh metal screening."
  • "Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids."

Traps, bait or repellents?

Health Canada says "Baits or poisons should not be used as the only method to control rats and mice." and that poisoned baits "must be used with a tamper-proof bait station in areas accessible to children and pets." If you are weighing bait or a repellent alongside traps, our label-by-label guides cover them:

Questions about which trap fits your barn, garage or house? Call us at (403) 679-5334 or visit the store in Millet.

Sources: Health Canada, "Rats and mice" (Pest control tips), canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/rats-mice.html, viewed October 2026; product names as listed on pipestonefarmsupply.ca. Trap directions: the package of each trap.