Mistaken Beliefs Concerning Traps

[bigoledude]

I often read here comments in regard to animal traps that are just not factual. The trap that is most often criticized is the foot-hold trap. There are many posts here decrying the "cruelty" of these traps. Foot-hold traps catch animals by closing on the area of the foot just above the pads of the foot. I have never met anyone who has even seen a foot-hold trap with TEETH. In fact, one of the most-used foot hold traps is an "offset" trap. The offset's jaws do not even come together when tripped. There is a gap to reduce the already small amount of pressure on the animals foot.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/bridgertraps.html

A young man here has written of outings with his trapper father, where they come upon trapped animals that are asleep in a foot-hold trap. I've read many allegations of animals chewing their foot off to escape a trap. If a trap is checked every day, that almost never happens. Again, I know of NO ONE who has had an animal chew it's foot off to escape a trap. The area I live in has a history of a once huge trapping industry. Many of the trappers I talk with have released many dogs, cats and untargeted animals UNHARMED and not even limping! Would this be my trap of choice when neighbor's animals frequent the area? No. Do I have problems killing animals that kill my stock? Absolutely not!

A great trap to target raccoons, opossums, and skunks is the DP (dog-proof) trap. It requires the targeted animal to PULL UP on the trigger mechanism. Raccoons and possums have the dexterity to trigger this trap. Dogs and cats do not. It is my favorite coon and possum trap.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/dudpcotr.html

Cage traps are expensive and are my least favorite and, least efficient trapping method.

Body traps like the "Conibear" kill the targeted animal. I use these in "bucket sets". They also, are very effective. They will kill dogs, cats and whatever else trips it. So, be very careful where you use these.

Snares are very inexpensive but extremely effective devices used to catch unwanted critters. I use them extensively. They don't require bait that needs to be freshened-up regularly. Snares can be set exactly where the predator is travelling or the spot where it is entering the area. Stops can be used on snares to prevent the snare from tightening to the point where the caught animal dies. There is a way to set a snare where it catches the animal by the foot. I use a fabric webbing for this and have had to release my dogs from them. Absolutely unharmed. If you plan on using snares, do some google and youtube searches until you are confident. They are easy to make and to set, so don't be intimidated.

My animals depend on me to protect them and, I will, to the fullest extent of my abilities. No predator has a pass to kill my stock just because he survives by killing other animals. Some folks would tell me that my animals can only be victims when it comes to predators.

 

[mystkblu]

Well said. I live on the edge of BLM and FS wilderness in the middle of nowhere and know my live stock will be targeted despite my best efforts to fence and safe guard. My best defense is my 12 gauge when I can see the predator. But when I'm ambushed when I'm not home a trap of some sort is my best recourse. Foot hold traps are now designed not to crush and maim. They are a great tool when circumstances require them.

 

[BayouPoules]

Good information,.. I didn't know this.

 

[geoff40]

Mistaken belief's regarding live trapping

Many people live trap animals and then drive them several miles away and release them. The idea being this is an act of humane kindness, a much better outcome than killing the animal. But if one takes the time to do a bit of research, reality starts to set in, and reality is more often a far different, and much more inhumane outcome for the animal. Please, don't take my word for it, and instead take the time to contact your State office that oversees the laws regulating wildlife. Ask them if relocating wildlife is humane. Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Game, Environmental Conservation, the names change from State to State but the responsibilities are the same. You are looking for the biologists who work for your State, studying the wildlife you have there.
These professionals will tell you, that live trapped animals translocated to new habitat usually die within a short period of time. They are released in to strange habitats they know nothing about. They don't know where food or shelter can be found, and will usually be attacked and driven off by others of their own kind defending their territory, food, and shelter. These attacks often involve multiple animals attacking the strange newcomer, often resulting in an injured animal, smelling of blood, essentially lost. The lucky ones are quickly killed by a predator; the other common result is sickness and starvation, a slow and cruel death.

If you have been live trapping and releasing animals miles away, it's not nice to hear or read this, I understand that. If you have the idea that live trapping and translocating animals is a good thing to do, please, make the inquiries, do the research. It is never too late to learn something new, it's never too late to change. I don't post this to make anyone feel awful about what they have done in the past.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/scrap_the_trap.html

http://guelph.ca/living.cfm?itemid=72628&smocid=2363

http://wildcaresolutions.com/there-is-no-humane-trap-and-relocate/

 

[chickortreat]

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[Mavrik]

Thanks, I used to be big on relocating cottontails (they eat my trees), now I will shoot them. Speaking of cottontails, I heard a commotion outside this morning and found a hawk chasing a rabbit. I think I will leave the rabbit control to the professionals (hawks). Hawks never bother my chickens, too many smaller things to eat around here.

 

[bigoledude]

Geoff, you are absolutely right. The fight for territory can be violent and cruel in the animal world. Some females will actually kill their grown or, nearly grown offspring to ensure they don't share Mom's territory. I did not write this to encourage people to humanely capture predators and then, release them in another location. The fear of catching an animal and have blood spurting or, broken bones protruding through skin. have some people horrified. This bothers some people who ordinarily have no problem shooting an animal. It would bother me to know that an animal spent an entire night in that condition!

I believe the offspring of some local coons have been taught to avoid our places. They stay off of the place and keep any intruders from moving in. We hunt wild Russian boars in the woods behind our chicken areas. We use feed to draw the hogs in. We have dozens of raccoons show up at every feeder. In most cases this is just a couple-hundred yards from the chickens. Possums are another story. Those "grinners" never stop coming.

Blu, of course the gun is a great option. My intent was to deal with misconceptions some people have with traps. If your neighbor's dog goes missing and they heard something that sounded like a gunshot during the night....

Another word on "Conibear" or body-traps. They kill instantly, quietly and yes, humanely. If, for whatever reasons, you don't want a yelping, squalling trapped animal alerting the entire countryside that you have stopped an intruder from killing your stock, the conibear is an option. Do some searches to determine what size you need and, how to place them.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/brid160con.html

I have, in the past, encouraged some folks to politely confront the owner of a problem dog before taking drastic action. Well, this is now playing out in the next town over; A friend brought a neighbor's dog home after the dog had torn a cage apart, trying to get to some expensive meat rabbits. Things went well during the meeting. However, the dog continued to run free and went missing. My friend did not kill this man's dog. Maybe he would have, if the attacks on his place had continued. But, he did nothing to this dog. The neighbor is livid and, is convinced that my friend killed his dog. There are people who raise goats, turkeys and chickens nearby but, the dog owner is accusing this guy of the disappearance of his dog. Think long and hard before you reveal your feelings concerning a nieghbor's dog. Part of our area is rural but, if someone were proven to have killed a pet, they very well could wind up in a world-a-trouble!

 

[cmb19]

Are you referring to me and seeing sleeping animals in traps with my dad? I know I've mentioned walking up on sleeping animals....BUT, I'm a girl.

Well a nearly 28 year old..woman..I guess. I would rather be referred to as girl though.


ETA: I am very glad you posted this.

 

[bigoledude]

Hey cmb19

I did not go back and re-read the post that I was referring to. I'm sorry I didn't catch the fact that you are a girl.

However, I am thrilled you area a girl! It seems women are more likely to consider all animals as nice, sweet, little fur-balls of love. Some are, but predators kill to live. I think women feel this way because it is part of that wonderful "mothering" instinct. My life was made immeasurably better because my mom was much more tolerant of my youthful stupidity. My dad was wonderful but, he was quick to call things the way they were. And, quick to make it right!

Several of my grand-daughters enjoy hanging with me in my predator-control endeavors. Makes me sooo proud to show them the humane way of protecting their stock. Please share some trapping techniques with us?

Thank you very much for contributing. I can't imagine a response that would have been better!

 

[cmb19]

I love hunting and trapping with my dad, but I don't have too many trapping techniques. I don't have a trapping license because I don't have the space to trap...I just go with my dad when ever possible. I know enough about trapping to have a successful line even if I started tomorrow.

I can tell you my dad doesn't use chunks of meat/food for bait, he uses only lures and whatever may be laying around the area for bait. He always places logs/rocks to "guide" the animal to the trap, with a hole behind the trap with a couple drops of lure. When I say whatever may be laying around, I mean if there's a dead rabbit, he'll grab a piece of fur to make it interesting, but most likely isn't going to use anything but lure. Which stinks. Fair warning.

You have to keep in mind that neither I, nor my parents, own chickens. I will have a flock someday when my husband and I get a house with land. My dad and I just enjoy doing things the way people had to live years ago. We also know how important keeping the animal population under control is, both to keep the different populations from going crazy and having to many animals for the land to support, but also to keep disease under control.