Mice may seem cute to some people, but they're nowhere near as cute when there's a major infestation going on. Not only can they cause a serious amount of damage, but they're also carriers of infectious disease. Nevertheless, you might be reluctant to use some of the effective, yet harsh methods of bringing mice problems under control.

If you're looking for a more humane way of dealing with your unwanted houseguests, the following offers four ingenious ways to deal with your mouse problem without harming a single hair on their bodies.

The Shoebox Trap

Old shoeboxes make for great storage containers, but they can also be put to good use as humane homemade mouse traps. All you need to do is cut a hole out of the center of your shoebox lid. Next, you'll need to create a trap door by taping two pieces of paper to the underside of the lid over the hole. Last but not least, you'll need to place a small amount of bait on top of the trap door.

The idea here is that the mice will make a play for the bait, only to fall through the trap door and land inside the shoebox with nowhere to go.

The Five-Gallon Bucket

Another clever way of trapping mice involves the use of a five-gallon bucket. Unlike some of the other traps mentioned here, this one doesn't need to be reset between each capture, plus you'll have plenty of parts lying around to build your trap.

There are plenty of variations of the bucket trap to choose from, each with their own unique benefits and drawbacks. For instance, you can balance a spoon or a used toilet tissue tube on the edge of your countertop with a dab of peanut butter or any other sticky bait on the end. The idea is for the mouse to lunge for the peanut butter, only to fall into the bucket along with the bait.

Another variation involves placing a rotating cylinder over the bucket and a couple of makeshift ramps on each end of the bucket leading to the cylinder. Once the middle of the cylinder is baited, you'll only need to wait until a curious mouse attempts to grab the bait, only to spin the cylinder and fall into the bucket. You also have the option of filling the bucket partially with water, but a dry bucket is preferable if you plan on releasing your catch elsewhere.

The Glass and Coin Trick

Now here's a trap that looks simple, yet surprisingly effective. This trap works by propping up a small but sturdy glass with a coin, preferably one the size of a nickel. The whole idea is for the mouse to scurry under the glass to reach the bait smeared on the bottom of the glass. Of course, the nickel gets knocked loose, causing the glass to fall and trap the mouse.

Keep in mind that you'll need a heavy glass to pull this off or else you may find a bunch of broken glass with no mouse to show for it.

The Bottle Trap

This trap is a little more complicated and time-consuming than the others, but the results are nothing short of amazing. For this one, you'll need several rubber bands, a couple of pieces of balsa wood, a square 20-ounce or larger water bottle and some twine. The end result is a spring-loaded trap that leaves your unwanted guests unscathed.

The bottle trap activates once the mouse tugs on the bait. This releases the twine holding the hinged "door" open. The rubber bands positioned on both sides of the door quickly snap and hold it shut, trapping the mouse inside. For more tips, contact a rodent control service near you.