Trapping Techniques Part 2

How do I set the trap?

The trap should be set with about a cup of food on something like a paper plate.  The plate should be placed beyond the trip plate.  Get a piece of cardboard, place it underneath the trap, then make a food trail that leads into the trap and straight to the dish of.  If you use cardboard, the trail of food does not leave a mess when you’re trapping on someone else’s property and it also lets you control where and when you want to bait.  In hot weather make sure there’s a bowl of water in the trap.  If the pet is bonded to humans then place used clothing like socks near the opening of the trap. 

It’s sometimes recommended to cover the top and sides of the trap with a towel while leaving the front and back end open.  The idea here is to create a kind of “tunnel vision” and the animal will want to go through the tunnel.  If you know your pet is the type that enjoys jumping in a cardboard box or brown paper bag it might like the concealment that towels or sheets might offer.  It depends on the animal. Also, newspaper, grass, or dirt can be placed on the inside of the trap for animals that might not like to step on metal wires.

Practice with your trap before putting it to use.  Make sure you understand how the mechanisms work and think about your animal and how to apply the trap to get the best results. Set the rap at night and check on it in the morning.

What foods should I use to set the trap?

Use your pet’s favorite food and the more odor it has the better.  You want something to draw your animal out from hiding even if it’s hiding a few homes away.  If you’re unsure as to what to use try fried chicken strips, bacon, or tuna.

If you trap wild animals, set some food nearby the trap that a raccoon or an opossum might like but that your pet might not like.  Some examples of foods that are turn-offs to domesticated animals include whole grains like corn and oats, alfalfa pellets, or fruits and nuts.  The idea is to fill up the local wildlife with other foods which makes them less likely to eat the food in your trap!

As for insects, such as ants, draw a chalk line around the trap.  Ants will not try to cross the chalk dust to get to the food in the trap.