This is a seasonal ritual at our house. I hear the mice move in with the cool weather and I get out the mousetraps. A tiny bit of peanut butter in the bait cup and they are caught. If I don't get all of them with the trap the rest seem to move on to safer pastures somewhere else after enough of their buddies have been killed.”

I would like to thank your company for making the "perfect" mouse trap. I have tried at least 20 other trap brands and they have all had various degrees of success, but none work as well as yours. My daughter bought me six (6) of your mouse traps for my birthday and after setting all of these traps around two of our properties, I was amazed at the response. Best traps I have found on the market.”
- Duane Schenck

Within thirty minutes or less of placing the Snap-E® Mousetrap, I had a dead mouse. I used some candy a mouse had eaten into as bait. I am ordering six more. These traps work! I have had about twenty of the old wooden ones sitting out around the house for three week and caught NOTHING!”
- Anne Smith

I'm catching mice every night in my greenhouse with these Snap-E® Mousetraps. They are so easy to set that I don't even flinch any more as I reset them - they never snap while they are being set. I've tried lots of different brands of mousetraps and these are far superior to the rest.”
- Mark Parsons

I love being able to catch multiple mice with one setup. This way I can let it sit for a couple days and catch multiples. The Ketch-All® Multiple Catch Mousetrap is the best mousetrap I've found. I'll be buying several more.”
- David Benn

You guys are great! Just a note to say 'Thank You' for the 2 Metal Lid Replacements for our Mousetraps. A great benefit was when I saw 'Proudly' made in America. That is what America is made of and we need to get back on track with showing the world! Great products, made by great people who back up what they produce! Look out mice... 2 traps back in service. Thank you!”
- Janine Hatt

I have set thousands of these traps while running Thoroughspect and have never found a better trap ever. The traps are exactly what a mousetrap should be in that they are fast-reacting, easy to set and release. In addition, they have a visible yellow bar that can be seen in crawl spaces and attics to see if they have been triggered.
- Brian M. Sweig

Latest News

Harvest Season Means Rodent Season

For many people across the Midwest, fall means combines in the fields, cooler temperatures, and another successful harvest. But while crops are coming out of the ground, rodents are looking for somewhere new to go.

As fields are harvested, mice lose the food and cover they’ve relied on all growing season. That often sends them searching for the next best shelter in homes, barns, shops, warehouses, grain facilities, and commercial buildings.

Understanding why this happens can help property owners stay one step ahead before a small rodent problem becomes a larger one.

Why Harvest Triggers Rodent Activity

Throughout the growing season, fields provide mice with everything they need: food, water, and protection from predators. Once crops are harvested, that habitat changes almost overnight. With fewer places to hide and less food available, mice begin migrating to nearby structures where they can find warmth, shelter, and reliable food sources. That’s why many homeowners, farmers, and business owners notice an increase in rodent activity during the fall.

The closer a property is to harvested fields, wooded areas, or grassy fence lines, the greater the likelihood that rodents will begin exploring nearby buildings.

Where Mice Typically Go

Most small rodents don’t need much of an opening to get inside. A gap about the size of a dime is enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Common entry points include:

Garage doors and foundations
Utility line openings
Roof vents and soffits
Door thresholds
Crawl spaces
Barns, machine sheds, and outbuildings

Once inside, mice quickly establish nesting areas near food, water, and warmth.

Early Detection Makes the Difference

One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until they actually see a mouse. By the time rodents are visible during the day, they’ve often been active for some time.

That’s why monitoring is such an important part of any rodent management program. Monitoring helps detect activity early, identify travel routes, and determine where control efforts will be most effective. Rather than relying on assumptions, it provides valuable information that supports smarter decisions.

Whether you’re protecting a family home, a farm operation, or a commercial facility, knowing what’s happening before an infestation grows can save time, money, and frustration.

Prevention Starts Outside

Before mice make themselves at home, take a few preventative steps around your property:

Seal gaps and cracks around foundations, doors, and utility penetrations.
Keep grass, weeds, and vegetation trimmed near buildings.
Store pet food, livestock feed, bird seed, and grain in tightly sealed containers.
Reduce clutter around foundations, garages, and sheds.
Remove potential nesting materials whenever possible.
Begin monitoring before rodent activity becomes obvious.

Fall prevention is far easier than dealing with an established infestation during the winter months.

When It’s Time to Call a Pest Management Professional

If you notice droppings, gnaw marks, scratching noises, or repeated rodent activity, consider contacting a licensed pest management professional (PMP). A PMP can identify how rodents are entering the structure, recommend exclusion methods, and develop a management plan based on the level of activity. Just as importantly, they can use monitoring strategies to verify whether control efforts are working and make adjustments as needed.

How Kness Supports Smarter Rodent Control

At Kness, we believe effective rodent control starts with understanding rodent behavior, not simply reacting after damage has occurred. For over 100 years, Kness has designed durable rodent control products trusted by pest management professionals, farmers, businesses, and homeowners alike. From multiple-catch traps and snap traps to monitoring solutions, Kness products help identify activity early, support informed placement decisions, and provide reliable performance season after season.

Rodent activity may increase during harvest season, but that doesn’t mean infestations are inevitable. Understanding rodent behavior, monitoring for early signs of activity, and taking action before problems grow can make all the difference.