Trapper Max Glue Traps 12 Glue Boards Trap Mouse Bugs Insects Bed Bugs Spiders Cockroaches Non-Toxic

Why I reached for the Trapper Max glue boards

A stack of white, peanut-butter-scented glue boards might not look like much, but they’ve become one of my most reliable tools for quick, low-effort pest control around the house and garage. I tested the Trapper Max glue boards as a non-toxic way to deal with crawling pests and the occasional mouse, prioritizing products that I can deploy fast without bringing chemical sprays into living areas. After several weeks of use in a garage with steady cricket traffic and some spider activity, plus a handful of placements indoors, I came away impressed with the boards’ sheer effectiveness—and mindful of a few caveats worth knowing before you put them down.

Design and setup

Each pack includes 12 boards. The adhesive area measures about 4.5 x 6.5 inches on a 5.25 x 7.75-inch board—enough real estate to matter, but compact enough to tuck into tight runs along baseboards and behind appliances. The cards are scored so you can deploy them flat or fold them into low “tunnel” stations. I much preferred the tunnel configuration in dusty spaces; it keeps debris off the glue, reduces accidental contact, and gives skittish pests a covered run they’re more likely to explore.

The boards arrive with a release liner over the glue. Peel, fold (if you want the tunnel), and place—no assembly fuss. The peanut butter scent is faint in my experience: noticeable when you’re right over the board, not something that lingers in the air. I wore disposable gloves while handling them because the adhesive is very aggressive and easy to transfer to fingers. If you do get some on your skin, vegetable oil works quickly to loosen it.

Performance in real spaces

In the garage, where crickets were finding their way under the door sweep, a line of flat boards just inside the threshold produced catches within hours. Along the perimeter walls—placed flush to the baseboards, with the glue edge right against the wall where pests prefer to travel—the boards filled predictably. Spiders that had been camping in corners ended up on the boards when I placed tunnels at the junction between the wall and shelving units. The adhesive is no joke: even larger, fast-moving spiders and errant beetles were immobilized.

Indoors, I placed a few tunnel boards under a kitchen sink, behind the refrigerator toe-kick, and inside the pantry. They served as both control and monitoring: no chemical residues, easy to check at a glance. Over two weeks, they picked up small ants, a couple of roaches, and a silverfish. For mice, glue boards are best used as intercepts along obvious runways. I had activity in a utility closet and caught one juvenile mouse in a covered configuration placed flush to the wall. For active rodent problems, I still consider snap traps the primary tool, but these are a useful companion—especially where you want to avoid baits.

Outdoors is not ideal; dust and humidity will neutralize the adhesive faster, and the non-target risk goes up. I kept them to sheltered, dry locations.

What the boards do well

• Non-toxic control: No sprays, no bait blocks. For homes with kids, pets, or allergy sensitivities, that matters. You’re using mechanical adhesion, not chemistry.
• Versatile placement: The ability to run them flat or folded increases options. Tunnels shine under appliances, in garages, and in cabinets. Flat placements are perfect behind furniture and along open baseboards.
• Strong adhesive: The glue stays tacky and effective for weeks in typical indoor conditions. It doesn’t dry out quickly unless it’s collecting lots of dust.
• Monitoring as much as control: These boards are a great way to confirm where pests are moving and which species you’re dealing with, which can inform broader treatment decisions.

Where they come up short

• Non-selective by nature: Glue boards catch whatever contacts them. That includes beneficial insects—and potentially reptiles like small lizards if used in garages or mudrooms. Place thoughtfully, and strongly consider the tunnel configuration to cut down on unintended catches.
• Ethical concerns for rodents: If you do catch mice, glue traps are not the most humane method. They can struggle and suffer. If humane dispatch is a priority, lean on high-quality snap traps and use glue boards for monitoring only.
• Mess and mishaps: They are extremely sticky. Keep them away from pets, kids, and robot vacuums. If a board does meet a vacuum side brush, it’s a whole project. Painter’s tape to secure the board and strategic placement out of the robot’s mapped paths help a lot.
• Temperature sensitivity: In very hot spaces the adhesive can get a bit “flowy,” and in very cold spaces it can stiffen. Typical home temperatures are fine, but if you’re working in unconditioned outbuildings, expect performance swings.

Safety and humane use

A few practical guidelines I follow:
- Place boards in tunnels whenever possible. It reduces contact with non-target species and keeps dust off the glue.
- Check placements daily, or at least every other day. That’s good practice for any trap, and it matters here.
- If a non-target animal is caught, vegetable oil gently applied around the contact area will loosen the glue. Work slowly and be prepared to consult a local wildlife rehabber for guidance.
- For rodent-heavy problems, prioritize snap traps in protective stations and use glue boards only as supplemental intercepts.

Dispose of full boards by folding the sticky sides together, bagging, and placing in the trash. Gloves make this cleaner.

Placement tips that improved my results

• Start where you see signs: droppings, rub marks, shed insect parts, or along walls and corners. Pests use edges.
• Under sinks, behind fridges, inside pantry toe-kicks, and around garage door perimeters are high-yield spots.
• Date each board with a marker. If a board stays empty for a week, move it a foot or two; small adjustments can make a big difference.
• Replace boards when they’re dusty or half-full. A clogged surface becomes a speed bump, not a trap.
• Use a couple of boards side by side to widen the “runway” in high-traffic areas.

Who these are for

• Homeowners who want a non-chemical option for crawling insects and occasional mouse activity.
• Renters who need temporary, low-profile monitoring and control without altering the space.
• Pros who want quick diagnostics in kitchens, utility rooms, and garages before deploying more targeted solutions.

If you’re facing a severe rodent infestation, you’ll likely need a broader integrated approach—sealed entry points, sanitation, and a combination of snap traps and bait stations. Glue boards can play a role, but they shouldn’t be your only tool.

Value and durability

A 12-pack goes a long way. In my use, boards remained effective for two to four weeks indoors depending on dust levels. The cost per placement is low enough that I didn’t hesitate to replace a board early if it was doing more monitoring than catching. Compared to ongoing chemical treatments, the economics are favorable, and the feedback you get (what’s moving where) is immediate and actionable.

Final take

The Trapper Max glue boards are simple, effective, and versatile. They’re at their best as non-toxic intercepts for crawling insects and as supplemental monitors around suspected rodent routes. The adhesive strength, foldable design, and compact size make them easy to fit into real-world spaces where pests actually travel. The trade-offs are the same with any glue trap: they’re non-selective, they require regular checks, and they raise ethical questions for rodent control. With thoughtful placement and a bit of discipline, though, they deliver consistent results without introducing chemical residues into your home.

Recommendation: I recommend these boards for anyone who wants a reliable, non-chemical way to monitor and reduce crawling pests, and for those managing light, localized rodent activity. Use them in conjunction with snap traps for mice, place them in tunnel form to limit non-target catches, and check them frequently. If you need humane rodent control or you have curious pets that roam every corner, consider alternative trapping methods first and keep these for targeted, out-of-reach placements.