Live Trap

[Bosque]

What is the best bait for a live trap?
Monday morning something, maybe a bobcat, domestic cat, raccoon pulled apart some PVC poultry netting that I had around my pheasant pen. I cannot find any fur or tracks, but something pulled apart the netting and mulled my two pheasants. They both died moments after I found them. Lesson learnt, even in an urban setting, ALWAYS use welded wire for the netting of a pen.
Thanks for any insite.
Bosque

 

[chickboss]

I know it sounds horrible, but one of the bodies would work. Hope this helps, and I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Tala]

I have really good success with dry cat food. Have caught raccoons, possums and a fox with it (and cats and chickens) Tonight I got to thinking that I need to pick up a bag of "Special Kitty" cheap stuff to trap with......shouldn't be feeding the preds my cat's expensive Taste of the Wild!!
Canned cat food, tuna, sardines, eggs, last night's pork chop bones, raw chicken, etc......anything really. In my area using "meat" (whether bodies or store bought) isn't really a great idea because it attracts biting ants worse than the other stuff does.

Raccoons will go for mashmallows - that cat's won't go for (not that they are a problem themselves, but if the trap has a cat inside it already then it can't catch the raccoon). I think Possums can also be caught on fruit without attracting cats.

 

[RedRoosterFarm]

we use canned catfood and tie it to the end in the trap so they stay awhile and trigger the door. I have also used dead chicks. Caught racoons and possums and a cat or two.

 

[wyliefarms]

I have done the dead bodies, cat food (our regular bait) and I have heard of marshmellows, but haven't tried them.

 

[RedRoosterFarm]

Marshmellows? now I have heard it all. Love it!

 

[CCFarms9559]

We have caught 15 raccoons on our farm this year. Caught the first 11 with fish and cat food - changed to marshmallows and caught the next 4. Some raccoons have a sweet tooth.. A combination of both works best.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
molasses is also a good bait for coon that will reduce eliminate non target catches.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Yeah, chances are what ever got to the birds will be back for their dinner.

 

[bockbock2008]

My coons love stombolis! Whenever we order stroms for dinner, I save the aluminum foil with the baked on cheese and meat scraps and put it in the trap.