My Dad has one of the most simple but barbaric trapping methods I know. He basically takes a 5 gallon bucket, fills it up with water, takes a piece of gutter and runs it up the side and then a stick across the top.
Like this:
http://www.woodtoyfun.com/zzzmousetrap.html
He will find 5 of them dead and floating in there at a time some days. Wonder how long they paddled away before they finally gave up and swam with the fishes. Maybe a sudden death by crushing mouse trap bar isn't so bad.
Replace water with anti-freeze, and you have a method that kills them faster and won't freeze in the winter. In the way I set it up, I use a string with a straw threaded on it instead of a dowel.
Best trap I've ever used. You can also configure it to be a live trap (no water in the bottom, grease the sides or use a metal can). You could also put snap traps if you want it to be really quick.
I have 2 snap traps always set in my apartment. We've had issues in the past, so I always leave them out just in case. Behind the stove and in the back of the pantry.
We also caught two in an electrical outlet that didn't have a cover. We think they got themselves stuck rather than cooking though (thankfully).
Another good trap (if they're climbing on your counters) is to take a metal can (like a coffee can), tape a string to the open top. Put bait in the back of the can. Tape the other end of the string/rope to you counter. Balance the can on the edge of the counter so that when the mouse runs in to get the bait, it weights the can so it falls off the counter. Make sure your string/tape is strong enough to take the jerk. EDIT: If you don't want it to be a live catch: Punch small nails through the bottom of the can (so when it goes over, the mouse gets impaled). Rather brutal and can leave them suffering for a while though.
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