Finally the balance of power “Us against them (mice)!” has shifted to us.”

With family always coming and going from the cabin, safety was important and toxins were not an option. Here’s how Terry’s using our Smart Trap Kit to finally win his long-standing battle with mice.

What kind of property are you trapping on?

We are very fortunate to have an old seasonal log cottage in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada, which has been in our family since it was built. The cottage is used from May to the end of September, we always have to wait for the lake ice to melt so we can get across the lake in the boat.

The log cottage walls were constructed first, then the roof and floor was installed.

“As you can imagine, there is no end of small nooks and crannies which mice can pass through between the logs and the floor, particularly where the roof meets the logs and even between the logs as the cottage continues to settle and move a little each year.”

When they constructed the log structure with hand tools in 1938 they didn’t have the engineering and building code standards we have today. I am sure the builders never thought the cottage would still be in summer use in 2023.

What were those first signs you had a mouse problem?

Mice have been a constant problem over the last 85 years, with some years worse than others. Everyone who uses the cottage is constantly making sure not to leave any food sources available for the mice.

What other pest control methods did you try before using a Goodnature trap?

Through the years we have tried traps of every description and design, from the basic wooden snap trap to battery-operated shock ‘em dead traps. We have also tried different dispensers of mouse poison, but they have always been our least favourite option.

“The cottage is a family-centric environment, so we have a safety mandate that any rodent control methods should not endanger small children or pets.”

This safety concern has made the secure placement of mouse traps and poison dispensers imperative. This is a challenge for anyone with a mouse problem whether it is a vacation property or home.

What was your experience with those other pest control methods?

It didn’t seem to matter what we used for mouse bait in the snap traps, the mice enjoyed the bait and more times than not, left to enjoy another day. For the unlucky few who were trapped there was often a messy clean-up the next day.

“Everyone’s least favourite task at the cottage was setting the traps each night and checking them in the morning. There were never any volunteers for those jobs!”

Since mice are relentless, we too continued looking relentlessly for the better mouse trap. Also the sealing up of the cottage has never stopped and I guess never will. It's an old log cottage, after all!

What made you decide to try a Goodnature trap?

While doing research on mouse traps, I found a Canadian YouTuber who had done an in-depth review of the Goodnature A24 trap over six months of usage with very positive results. I had not heard of this New Zealand product invention before, until watching his YouTube Channel.

The unit is expensive compared to snap traps, but the predicted results were well worth the investment.

Where is your Goodnature trap located?

80% of the time I have the A24 trap mounted in the Trap Mount on the outside of the cottage. At time of purchase, I also ordered the portable Trap Stand which I mounted on a small piece of plywood. The plywood base makes it easy to move the trap to different inside locations. We use this set up in the kitchen from time to time, along a wall or hidden behind a table.

What’s your Goodnature trapping experience been like so far?

We have not been disappointed with our purchase of our Goodnature trap. It has lived up to all our expectations - we just finished our 5th year with the trap and had 30 humane kills this season. I have highly recommended the trap to many people over the years as have our adult children.

“The A24 mouse trap is the most reliable, easy to maintain mouse trap, with bloodless clean ups I have ever used. The instant humane dispatch of a mouse, is a welcome feature in our family. Finally the balance of power “Us against them (mice)!” has shifted to us.”

I must say after gathering my thoughts on this trap, I hadn’t truly realised what a great product it is. It works so well you kind of forget all the struggles with the snap traps and their failures. Not many products are like that today - install it and it works 24/7.

How have you optimised your Goodnature trapping set-up over the years?

Originally I purchased the trap with just the Strike Counter. With a passing fox removing the dead mouse bodies, it was helpful for sure. But you start to wonder if the trap is working if no remains are left in place, so this year I added the Smart Cap to the trap.

“Now I get the number of humane kills with the date and time bluetoothed to my phone. It’s nice data to have, plus it also predicts the number of strikes left on the Co2 strike canister and number of days left on the trap’s lure paste.”

It is just one of those things in this day and age of data-driven interests. Guess what I check before email each morning?

What tips do you have for other Goodnature trappers?

One item I’ve found to be highly effective is the pouch of pre-feed paste. I apply a little of the paste near the trap to keep the mice interested in the trap. Simple to do and very effective in keeping the trap attractive to mice in the area.

I’d also recommend spending some time on the Goodnature website, it is very comprehensive on how to use the trap, which includes maximising placement of the trap to your specific circumstances through the use of the lure tasters. Lots of real world support on their website.