Animal Trapping

02.02.2007 - Every now and then, while animal trapping, I get a double catch.  Such was the case today, when I found two opossums in the same trap.  While this was a nice bonus, most of the time, I find no catches in my traps.  Not that I'm a lousy animal trapper, but that this is the way it goes.  Even the best trap set will yield no results for a variety of reasons.  Animal trapping isn't a simple matter, and a lot goes into successful trapping.  I'll now outline the five primary considerations when it comes to catching nuisance critters:

Type Of Trap: Of the many wildlife traps available, it's important to choose the correct one. The trap type and size must match the animal and situation. A small, sensitive cage trap for a squirrel. A large, sturdy cage trap for a raccoon. A swinging door repeater trap for pigeons. A snap trap for rats. Etc. A high-quality trap is important. Low quality traps can result in failed catches or escaped animals.

Type Of Bait: This factor isn't really very important at all. Most of the time, you can catch the animal with no bait if you do everything else correct. It's simple - for rodents, use nuts and peanut butter, and marshmallows and cat food will suffice for a variety of larger wildlife.

Location of Trap: Very important. If it's a groundhog or an armadillo, the trap should be on the hole. A squirrel, on the roof. A rat, on its travel pathways. A raccoon, where it's foraging. Etc.

Integrity of Set: This is actually probably the most important element to ensure success, and the area where most people fail. The trap should be flush with the ground. There should be no debris to block the door or the trip pan or any other component. The trip pan should be set at the proper sensitivity. Roof mounted traps should be bolted in with shingle protectors. Repeater traps must have no alternative routes of escape. Etc.

Safety: The traps should be set so that the trapped animal is not exposed to the sun, or else it will overheat. The trap should be clear of electrical wires or anything else you don't want a raccoon to reach out and destroy. It should not be a lethal trap that can kill the neighbor's cat. It should not be set where kids can stick their fingers inside and get bitten. Etc.

I never harm or kill the animals that I trap. A lot of experience is necessary to make sure that the whole process goes smoothly. Also, it's illegal for unlicensed persons to trap animals in most states. I definitely believe that animal trapping is best left to competent professionals. It may seem simple, but most attempts I see made by beginners fail for a variety of reasons.

Do it yourself: Visit my How To Trap Animals Yourself page for tips and advice.
Get professional help: Visit my Nationwide Pro Directory of wildlife removal experts.

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Animal traps are popular among most homeowners. If it's not for trapping a rat, then it's one for trapping large critters such as possums, raccoons, foxes, or armadillos. Traps are also used by hunters to capture their target animals. In this article, we'll focus mainly on the trapping of animal pests in homes.

As humans continue to encroach the forests and other animal habitats through urbanization and construction of settlements, the number of conflicts between humans and wildlife has since increased tremendously. As a result, many homeowners have incurred thousands of dollars in damages from the messy critters. And if you're a DIY enthusiast, you could save some money by using a trap to capture the troublesome animal.

Even though animal trapping is the most popular way of getting rid of messy, wild animals, the method of trapping depends on the type of animal that you want to trap. The type of animal that you want to catch also determines the type and size of the trap. For instance, rats require a small and inexpensive trap. For the case of bigger animals such as possums, raccoons, foxes, and others, it's convenient and humane to use a live cage trap with an appropriate bait.

Also, it's imperative to check with both state and federal laws to ensure that you're doing the right thing. The legal policies and regulations governing wildlife control differ from state to state. For instance, some states banned the hunting and trapping of individual wild animals such as raccoons, alligators, or opossums, while other states are allowing animal trapping under certain circumstances. And in other states, you may find that only certified hunters or wildlife removal professionals are permitted to carry out the exercise.

Raccoons always cause massive damage whenever they get an opportunity to inhabit any home. But, if your state allows for trapping of large animals such as raccoons, the use of lethal traps such as body grip trap, snap-toe trap, or fatal snares are almost always prohibited. The logic behind the prohibition of deadly traps is because it can also trap neighbor's cats, stray dogs, or your pet. Believe it or not, if the trap can catch and rapidly kill a raccoon, fox, or a possum, then your curious pet can also get killed by the same trap. Therefore, the use of humane and non-lethal traps is recommended.

Besides that, the use of poison to kill troublesome animals is also frowned upon due to its indiscriminate nature. As such, it can kill unintended animals that come into contact with it, including a neighbor's pet, your pets, and even curious children who could accidently ingest it. Not to mention the stinky smell caused by a decomposing carcass in your walls. Just terrible!

When it comes to animal trapping, the first thing you should do is to know the type of animal that you're battling. You can easily know each type of animal from the shape of their droppings, type of damage, and sighting. After identifying the animal's routes, entrances, and exits, you should set up live cage traps with the proper bait to ensure you only trap your target animal, but not an opportunistic one.

After setting up your trap and added bait, you should visit the trap at close intervals and release any non-target animal that finds itself in the trap. Additionally, carrying out frequent checks helps to protect the animal from dehydration caused by the sun's heat.