Charlotte Smith shares her frustration over unexpected items in Lidl’s middle aisle during her shopping trip
City: London: So, I was out grocery shopping at Lidl last night, just picking up the usual stuff like milk and bread. You know how Lidl’s middle aisle is always a bit of a surprise? It’s like a treasure hunt for random goodies. But this time, I was a bit taken aback.
As I strolled through, I found comfy pyjamas and candles, but then I hit the pet section. There were cat scratchers and, wait for it, snap mouse traps. I had to do a double-take. Seriously, snap traps in a supermarket? That’s not what I expected.
These traps were the classic kind, not the humane ones I usually see. I mean, I get that they’re effective, but it felt off to find them there. I decided to reach out to Lidl to see what they had to say about it.
A spokesperson told me they offer a variety of products in the middle aisle, and that these traps are available at many UK retailers. They even mentioned that some consider them humane. But honestly, I wouldn’t want to kill a mouse like that. I prefer the live capture traps, you know, the ones where you can catch and release them.
Sure, the snap traps are cheap at £1.99, and if you have a mouse problem, they might seem like a quick fix. But for me, it’s just not right to kill a living creature in my home. I’d rather give them a chance to escape, like catching a spider in a glass.
Now, I know some folks think the instant kill option is the way to go, but it just doesn’t sit well with me. There are plenty of humane traps out there if you look online. Just a quick search will show you loads of options on sites like Amazon.
And if you take the word ‘humane’ out of the search, you’ll find snap traps at other stores too. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and B&Q all have them. I even reached out to those stores for their thoughts, but no replies yet.
It’s wild to think that these traps are so easy to find, but I was really surprised to see them in Lidl’s middle aisle, surrounded by all those fun toys and cozy clothes. I’d feel the same way if I saw them in other supermarkets too.
According to the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, snap traps are considered one of the more humane options. They say live traps are also good, but poisons and glue traps are a last resort. I get that, but I still can’t shake the feeling that there are better ways to handle mice.
PETA also has a lot to say about this. They argue that lethal methods don’t really solve the problem long-term. When you remove rodents, it can actually lead to more breeding. So, humane traps are often seen as the better choice.
It’s important to remember that if you go the humane route, you need to check the traps regularly. You don’t want the little guys to suffer. And when you release them, make sure it’s somewhere safe, or they might struggle to survive.
Keeping your home mouse-proof is key too. Look for signs like droppings or chewed-up food bags. Mice can squeeze through tiny holes, so sealing up entry points is a must. Keeping things tidy and using essential oils can help keep them away.
