Buying traps tomorrow...any suggestions?

[panner123]

Fl as most other states has a DO NOT RELOCATE LAW. Catch it--kill it. If you don't want to be fined, use the three S rule, shoot it, shovel it and shshsh.

 

[foxtrapper]

I take it you're planning to cage trap the coon? There are a few things you need to be aware of with a cage trap.

Lets start with you. That carry handle places your hand darn close to the coon, and with a coon in it, it tends to be heavy, so it ends up close to your leg as you carry it. So beware! Grasping paws can do a number on you real quickly. The cheaper traps have a larger wire mesh, so the animal can reach out better.

Then comes getting the animal out. Many cage traps have a lousy release system that requires you to push the spring back against a wire mesh door and reach in to pull the door up. It's dandy way to get shredded by an animal that will likely take off, leaving you to wonder if you now should be getting rabies shots or not. You can't wear a heavy enough glove for this job imo. You can get a split second of semi-safety if you stand the cage up on end and drop it to the ground, knocking the animal to the back for a moment. Then tilt the trap down and away from you.

Usually the animal takes off out of the cage, and keeps going. But not always. Be prepared for the animal that turns around to tear you up. It happens. It's much more likely to happen if the animal feels it cannot escape you, so don't open the cage facing a wall.

Not all cage trapped animals are peacefull about being in the cage. Particularly feral cats. This makes picking up and carrying the cage quite interesting. I've had cats take cage traps on a road trip by their thrashing. As in rolling it across the barnyard and such. So you've got to stake or otherwise secure the trap in place. Usually a cinderblock will work.

Next is making sure the trap actually works. I'd hate to confess the number of times I've screwed up a cage trap set by having things in the way that prevented the doors from dropping all the way down. It's worth your while to test fire the set a few times.

And then there's the grasping paws of the coon. Notorious for understanding cage traps and reaching in from the sides instead of walking into it. So you've got to make it so the critter has to enter the trap to get to the bait. Which runs afoul of not blocking things and preventing the trap from firing.

Since most critters don't care for walking on wire mesh, and are rather skeptical of walking into a wire enclosed area, you may have to disguise the trap with some coverings, and some dirt or such on the floor. But, beware of preventing the trap from firing!

Then there's the lure/bait. Start mild, as you really want to catch the predators there, not bring them in from afar. Racoons really do like marshmallows. And since they are the only animal really into marshmallows, it works well as a racoon exclusive bait. Next comes cat food, stinky canned fish, katsup (really), and other strange things you come up with. Animals are as notional as people when it comes to what tastes good to them. So vary things, particulary if what you're using isn't working.

 

[farmgirl2477]

Ok, the racoon pulling the can out is probably how it managed to eat and leave the trap empty LOL. I put tuna in it, and was actually amazed I didnt catch my dog LOL I have yet to catch anything, and also have not lost anymore chooks <knock on wood> but I think it maybe that Im running the dogs through there constantly. I knew a lab would come in handy some day hehe. Just throw a couple tennish balls in there and he will wander for awhile. Probably not real helpful for trapping though LOL.

Thanks for all your great tips though!!

Shannon