Michigan

[fifelakelooper]

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Good luck with your hen. Sounds like you have done everything possible Daughter of EVe
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Sun is shining everyone...decent weather finally...I'm still on my "melt snow, melt" mantra.....

 

[Opa]

Based on the number of road killed coons I've been seeing near my house I decided that it would be prudent to get the traps out and set. So yesterday afternoon I set a couple of dog proof leg hold traps. The best feature of them is that you won't catch dogs and cats. The trap consists of an 1 1/2 tube about 6" long. Bait is placed in the bottom below the trigger. A wire loop grabs the animal by the paw when the reach inside and pull on the trigger while attempting to get the bait.

This morning one of the traps held a coon so now there will be one less critter to terrorize this neighborhood.

 

[Olive Hill]

Haven't seen many coons up here yet, but the possums are out in droves. Shot one in the side yard about dusk Friday evening and have seen them on the road a lot lately. Haven't smelled any skunks yet either, that's always the surest sign of spring.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Hmmm...gonna have to check into that trap. We have constant problems with raccoons...we gave up growing sweet corn because it was impossible. (got thru electric wire even). I had two roosters that attacked everyone several years back....I wanted them 'GONE' and my husband was busy and said...he'd get around to it. Well...I put them in a totally enclosed pen that I once used for a run. Had wire on top, sides and bottom. I went outside the next day and there were TWO raccoons in the pen and two dead/torn up roosters. The coons were trying to get out at the top of the wire pen but couldn't...they were trapped. I THINK the only possible way they got in was using there body weight at the top...were able to somehow squeeze the wire out enough to get in but then couldn't get out without the use of their body weight. Really...it is still a mystery to us.
Opa where did you find the trap or did you make it?

 

[RIRJen]

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They did really well

I went out there after dark and peeked in and there was two piles of chicks and they looked nice and warm. I'm going to leave the light on during the night for them until it warms up a bit more.

Lots of new Speckled chickies hatched out last night!!

 

[Opa]

I think the best dog proof trap is made by Duke. Extremely well made though a little pricey. Thirteen bucks per trap but they will last a life time. I attached mine with some 1/8" cable to screw in augers used for dog leads but you could attach them to anything.

 

[RIRJen]

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OH! That sounds like an awesome trap!!

I don't have much problems with coons...mostly skunks and rabbits. Do you know how to make a good rabbit snare? I can pop em' off with my 22G but I'd rather set it up to get them at night....not sure the neighbors would like me running around with a flashlight taped to my head shooting rabbits at midnight

(yeah, mental image that one!)

 

[Opa]

Rabbit snares are pretty simple to make. Google rabbit snares and you'll find lots of u-tube videos that show how to make them.

 

[RIRJen]

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When I think of trapping coons I think of "Where the red fern grows" where (the book of course!) they put shiney pieces of metal in a whole with nails going the opposite direction and then once the coon grabs hold he won't let go but can't get his hand out... I think throwing that trap might be easier then that lol.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Great! $13 is worth it. I am a animal lover but have grown to really dislike racoons.