a little peanut butter inside and you'll catch the mice if there are any. A couple mice a night isn't uncommon in spring and summer. It's a live trap, but I'm in no hurry to empty it and if they are still alive I fill a bucket with water and drown them. It's cruel, but I'm not opening the lid or taking them to my neighbors house while they are alive. I tried launching one off a 40ft cliff but it landed and ran off, damn things are sturdy. Drowning is quick. Yes I could use a snap trap, but I can't catch multiple mice with the snap traps. I caught at least 50 mice this summer with these traps. I use them at a cabin in the woods, everything is trying to get in. I use these 3 of these on the perimeter of the cabin. No more problems inside.