Percival P. Cassidy wrote the following:
On 01/21/10 01:01 pm, james wrote:

I set up a mouse trap in the garage and have caught several mice
successfully.

After several peaceful months, I found the trap tripped again and the
peanut butter all gone, but there is no mouse to be found anywhere. How
is this possible?

This is the trap I use:
http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/...ictor_trap.jpg

I have a lot of experience. I only put traps in my garage and shops, as I
also have little dogs that run around, so I have to be careful. I use the
same ones as you, but a Tin Cat by Victor is better.

But back to your question. One of two things. Either the mouse does not
get caught, or bugs strip the peanut butter. I have seen some mice push the
trap to get it to spring, then eat the pb. For them, I place the trap
vertical with the food down. That will get them. I have also come back to
find a sprung trap, nothing in it, and a large dead pack rat close by.
Guess it hit them on the head, and they didn't stay in the trap. So look
around, and you may have a dead larger rodent. And then sometimes they get
caught but manage to wiggle out, sometimes leaving a leg or paw.

I live in a very very heavily populated rodent area. I have to deal with
huge squirrels that raid my fruit trees. Then there's the chipmunks that
get into just about everything, the gophers that make tunnels and large
mounds of expensive spoils on the lawn, pack rats, and mice.

I have given up on the chipmunks. For the squirrels, I use a shotgun and a
water trap with a trap door that works good. I use spring traps for the
gophers underground. I have gotten pretty good at catching them, but I have
to check them EVERY DAY. My grandsons love coming here to stay, because we
make rounds and empty the traps. Then we take a large metal spoon and see
how far we can fling them into the air into the canyon abutting my property
as food for the coyotes and birds. I'm going to make some tall T's to put
them on so I can draw in some of the large raptors in the area.

Let us know what you figure out, and again, look for dead carcasses from
injured animals. They get skanky real quick unless you're in a cold place,
and then they will come spring.

Steve