how do you catch a weasel?

[325512]

It has been 4 days without catching the weasel. However, the temperature has dropped into the lower 20's. Do weasels stay in their holes when it gets cold or am I missing something?

 

[Howard E]

Some weasels (a least weasel) may not be big enough to trip the trigger on your live trap. An alternative might be a "weasel box trap", which is a wooden box trap with a big ol baited rat trap waiting for them inside.

Do a google or youtube search for "weasel box trap" for plans and ideas.

 

[Maeschak]

I have no clue- once I made and set up 4 weasel boxes I never caught a weasel! But I have caught a few mice in the boxes and the weasel has not been back yet... So, for me I call it a semi-win. At least there are no more deaths due to weasels (for now at least).

 

[325512]

Maybe this is not a weasel, but def big enough to trip the trap. What do you think?



You can see the 1/2 PVC pipe and valve in the top right corner for a size reference.

 

[Maeschak]

Maybe this is not a weasel, but def big enough to trip the trap. What do you think?



You can see the 1/2 PVC pipe and valve in the top right corner for a size reference.

Oh that is a weasel all right!!!! You need to get that thing! One snuck into my coop through a mouse-hole one night and slaughtered like 5 chickens and 3 chicks. The next night he came back (I didnt realize it was a weasel at that point so I filled every hole but that mouse hole... I didnt even realize we had weasels in the area...) and murdered a duck, 3-4 more full grown chickens and the mother of the dead chicks. Well, he didnt actually succeed in killing the duck and mother hen but they were so mangled I had to put them down in the middle of the night in my pajamas. (I thought I heard a ruckus in the coop so I ran down there).

They are disgusting little creatures that will slaughter as much as they possibly can as quickly as they can. Well, maybe I shouldn't say disgusting, as they are just doing what comes naturally to them.. but I have never wanted to kill an animal out of anger before meeting the weasel. I read that their metabolisms are so high they need to eat incredibly often- so when they find a food buffet something goes off in them just trying to kill as much food as possible without realizing they cant possibly eat it all.

Anyway, do everything you can to get rid of that weasel. He will decimate your flock if he has half the chance.

 

[Maeschak]

I guess I should add- make as many weasel boxes as you can, or get as many traps as you can and place them all around the perimeter of the coop baited with bloody meat. If you get have a heart traps or something like that try wrapping the traps in something such as a black garbage bag. Weasels often find most of their food in rodent tunnels and holes so they have a keen hunting desire to enter small enclosed spaces looking for food.

Good luck. Now you got me scared my weasel is going to come back! I gotta clean out the weasel boxes and re-set everything....

 

[325512]

I have 2 chicken coops. He got into one of them, and in two nights, he killed 22 out of 25 chickens. I moved my remaining three over to the other coop, but I have not been able to catch anything in my live trap. The bait remains undisturbed as if he has moved on.

 

[325512]

I am learning how to make weasel boxes, and I am collecting the supplies I need to make them. Thank you for your help!

 

[Howard E]

Looks bigger than your average weasel. Maybe one of the larger cousins like a martin or fisher?

Google your state fish and game website for all of these to see what is prevalent or possible in your area.

That looks like a candidate for a live trap. You would need the right bait. Something alive and moving.....like a rat or a mouse would be the best.

 

[Maeschak]

I have 2 chicken coops. He got into one of them, and in two nights, he killed 22 out of 25 chickens. I moved my remaining three over to the other coop, but I have not been able to catch anything in my live trap. The bait remains undisturbed as if he has moved on.

Oh my gosh I am soooo sorry... do you have multiple pictures of him from multiple nights? Like, does he come back at the same general time every night? After my weasel attacks I set a lot of traps and also turned the lights on around the coop and sat up ALL NIGHT every night for a week waiting for him to come back so I could shoot him. I figured with me actively hunting him and the traps I would get him eventually. Got three raccoons but no weasel.

I think the live bait is a good idea if you can get it- perhaps little mice people use for feeding snakes from a pet store? Maybe put them in a tiny little cage in the back of your weasel box/have a hearts?