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Animal Trapping Tips

 

 

  1. What bait should I use for my target animal?

Armadillo Bait: Meal worms, other worms, or insects enclosed in a little cloth bag, maggots, sardines. Bird Bait: Sunflower seeds or scratch grain Stray Cat or Bobcat Bait: Fish, meats, oil of catnip, sardines or canned tuna, chicken. Chipmunk Bait: Prune pits, un-roasted peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, cereal, grains, popcorn. Dog Bait: Dog food. Flying Squirrel Bait: Apples, seeds, red rubber ball, whole roasted peanuts. Fox Bait (Red and Gray): Scented bait from a reliable fox trapper, chicken. Gopher Bait: Peanut butter mixed with molasses, spread on whole wheat bread. Groundhog Bait (Woodchuck): Fresh string beans, sweet corn, lettuce, peas, cantaloupe, strawberries, cucumbers, peaches, vanilla extract. Mice Baits: Cheese, bread and butter, small nuts, cherry pits, oatmeal, sunflower or similar seeds. Mixed peanut butter and oatmeal is very good bait, also gum drops. Muskrat Bait: Fresh vegetables, parsnips, carrots, sweet apples, oil of anise, or musk from another muskrat. Nutria Bait: Muskmelon or cantaloupe rind, ripe bananas. Opossum Bait: Vegetables, sweet apples, chicken entrails, sardines, crisp bacon, canned cat food. Otter Bait: Fish. Porcupine Bait: Apples, salt, carrots. Rabbit Bait: Fresh vegetables (brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, lettuce), apples. In the wintertime, bread is a good bait, red fox urine. Spraying the inside of the trap with apple cider is also effective. Raccoon Bait: Fish, fresh or canned, honey or sugar covered vegetables, smoked fish, watermelon, sweet corn, cooked fatty meat, crisp bacon. Special favorite is marshmallow! Rat Bait: Cheese, chicken or fowl flesh, cereal grains, peanut butter and oatmeal mixed, peppermint candy. Skunk Bait: Chicken entrails, cracknels, fish-canned or fresh-insect larvae such as may beetles, crisp bacon, cat food. Squirrel Bait: Cereal, grains, nuts (especially peanuts) sunflower seeds, anise oil (a drop or two on bread), shelled corn, apples. Mixed peanut butter and oatmeal or peanut butter and molasses, popcorn. One trapper swears by almond extract on bread to tempt the nearest squirrel. Vole Bait: Peanut butter mixed with molasses, spread on whole wheat bread. Weasel Bait: Fish, fresh liver, chicken entrails. Woodchuck Bait (Groundhog): Fresh string beans, sweet corn, lettuce, peas, cantaloupe, strawberries, cucumbers, peaches, vanilla extract.

 

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 Look below for Cage Trapping Tips.

 

  1. The bait is gone, but the trap is empty. What happened?

Two-door trap:If you are using a two-door trap, setting the trap with both doors open and placed the bait placed on the trip plate, the animal may have walked half way into the trap taken the bait and backed out. He may have been able to do this because he was large in size and not fully inside the trap door when the trap was triggered. The door will then come down on his back, keeping the exit open and enable him to back out of the trap. One suggestion is to set the trap with only one door open and place the bait in the back of the trap near the closed door. Try to securely fasten the bait to the mesh by using string, garbage bag twist ties or thin wire. This will insure the animal comes into the trap as far as possible before the triggering. If this failure continues after trying the above method, the animal may simply be too large for the trap to accommodate and you may have to use a larger trap. Single-door trap:If you are using a single-door trap and placed the bait placed on or near the trip plate, the animal may not have been fully inside when the trap was triggered. He may have been able to do this because he was large in size and fully not inside the trap door when the trap door started to close. The door will then come down on his back, keeping the exit open and enable him to back out of the trap. Set the trap again, placing the bait in the back of the trap. It may be helpful to actually place the bait in the upper rear corner. Securely fasten the bait to the mesh by using string, garbage bag twist ties or thin wire. This will insure the animal comes into the trap as far as possible before the triggering. If this failure continues after trying the above method, the animal may simply be too large for the trap to accommodate and you may have to use a larger trap.

 

  1. Why should I buy Havahart Live Animal Cage Traps?

All Havahart traps are constructed of sturdy wire mesh, galvanized for maximum resistance to rust and corrosion.

Mesh openings are smaller than competing traps of comparable sizes allowing fewer escapes.

Fully assembled and ready for use, Havahart cage traps come in models sized for a variety of animals.

Our full range of conventional Havahart cage traps are designed for the occasional needs of homeowners and gardeners.

 

  1. How can I avoid catching my neighbor's cat?

Bait your trap with something sweet. Wheat bread with peanut butter spread on it is always a sure attractant, oil of anise, sweet corn and grape jelly are also suggested for nuisance animals. The majority of domestic animals are not attracted to this type of bait. If you do catch your neighbor's dog or cat you have several options:

Letting it go uninjured

Informing your neighbor and giving him a chance to claim his pet

Calling a humane officer, police or other officer to confer in case damage done by dogs is taken care of by town or other subdivisions as a part of the dog license arrangements.

 

  1. What should I do if I catch a skunk?

It is best to prevent any undue annoyance to the skunk then there will be no need to fear any obnoxious odor! First, find an old cloth, towel or sheet that will be used to cover the trap. Next, approach the trap cautiously holding the trap covering in front of you. Make sure that this covering extends to the ground while holding it - don't let the skunk see your feet coming as this may alarm him. When you're close enough to the trap, gently cover the trapped animal--trap and all. Since skunks are nocturnal, den-dwellers this covering will help to calm him. He may even curl up in a corner of the trap if given a few minutes to relax. After that, the covered cage can be lifted by the handle and the skunk transported to a safer place and released.


 

 

  1. Okay, I've safely caught the animal, now what do I do?

We recommend that you contact the Humane Society, or the local or state game commission to determine the lawful method of releasing a captured wild or nuisance animal before setting the trap. Many species are protected by law in various states. For most animals, we recommend re-locating it 3 - 5 miles away. Because it's a wild animal, it will find food and survive just fine.

 

  1. What are the advantages of using a 2 door trap versus a 1 door trap?

It is actually a matter of preference. Unlike old-fashioned box traps, most Havahart traps open at both ends so certain cautious species have the feeling of confidence that he is going to get out again. A one door trap allows the animal to walk the whole way into the trap and past the trip plate when the doors shut ensuring even a large animal will be caught.

 

  1. What size trap do I use to catch my target animal?

Mice, Shrews, Voles Use model 1020 which is 10"x3"x3". Rats, Weasels, Chipmunks, Flying Squirrels, Red Squirrels Depending on the size of the animal, here are the recommendations. Use model 0745 which is 16"x6"x6 3/8". Use model 1025 which is 18"x5"x5". Rabbits, Minks, Large Squirrels Use model 1030 which is 24"x7"x7". Muskrats, Ferrets Use model 1040 which is 30"x7"x7". Raccoons, Skunks, Stray Cats, Woodchucks (Groundhogs), Porcupines, Opossum Use model 1045 which is 36"x11"x11" Armadillos, Raccoons, Skunks, Stray Cats, Woodchucks (Groundhogs), Porcupines, Opossum, Bobcats, Nutria Use model 1050 which is 42"x11"x13". Squirrels, Small Rabbits Use model 1077 which is 17"x7"x7". Skunks, Squirrels, Rabbits Use model 1078 which is 24"x7"x7". Use model 1088 (collapsible) which is 24"x7"x7". Armadillos, Raccoons, Feral Cats, Stray Cats, Woodchucks (Groundhogs) Use model 1079 which is 32"x10"x12". Use model 1089 (collapsible) which is 32"x10"x12". Bobcats, Feral Cats, Large Raccoons, Nutria, Small Dogs Use model 1081 which is 42"x15"x15".

 

  1. What is the warranty on a Havahart Live Animal Cage Trap?

Our Havahart Live animal cage traps are covered 100% due to manufacturing defects or workmanship. Please contact our Customer Care division at 1-800-800-1819 or Email us at Consumercare@woodstream.com if you have questions.

 

  1. Is there anything extra I can do to assure I catch my target animal?

Learn more Live Animal Trapping tips at http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/tipinfo.html.

 

  1. What do rabbits eat in each of the seasons?

Fresh vegetables (brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, lettuce) or apples. In the wintertime, bread is good. For more information of rabbits: http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/tipinfo.html

 

  1. I am interested in adopting a stray cat. Are there any precautions I should take or reasons why I shouldn't adopt him?

It is wonderful that you want to adopt a stray cat. Here are some things to keep in mind. Often times if a cat is stray or feral it is difficult to domesticate the animal. Once you catch the cat, I would recommend taking the cat to a vet or the humane society so they can evaluate the condition of the animal.

 

  1. How do I set my trap?

All of our cage trap instructions are located on our web site. Here is the link:http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/instructions.htm

 

  1. What foods would attract skunks? What would deter skunks?

Good baits for skunks include chicken entrails, fish -- canned or fresh, insects such as beetles and crisp bacon. Learn more about trapping skunks.

 

  1. I've caught a wild animal in a trap. What should I do with it?

Please contact your local or state game commission or call the Humane Society. They may be able to recommend the next steps for you.

 

  1. Where can I get instructions for my trap?

The instructions for all of our cage traps have been posted on the web site. Go to our complete list of instructions to find out more about your model.

 

  1. Is there any kind of cat repellent that can be used inside on furniture?

There are several types of products that may be helpful. There is a product called the "Scat Mat" that is an electrical mat that you place on the furniture. There is another product that is plastic covers for a cat's claws. They need to be replaced periodically as the cat's claws grow.

 

  1. I found an injured or sick wild animal. How can I take care of it?

Please call your local game commission or humane society for help.

 

  1. I think there's an animal in the attic. What do I do?

I would suggest a live cage trap. If you can determine what type of animal you have this will make it easier to know what size trap to purchase. The trap does need to be placed on a flat surface in an area that the animal would come into contact with it. If you spray the trap with apple juice this will make it more attractive to the animal. Read more trapping tips.

 

  1. Do you offer anything specifically for stray cats?

Yes, you can find the Stray Cat Rescue Kit model 1099 on our website, along with the Havahart Cat Repellent at the following link to our store:

  1. I noticed you listed fox urine as a bait. Why does it attract rabbits?

Red Fox urine seems to works as a lure, drawing rabbits to the trap. We're not sure exactly why it works but it's an old trick used by experienced fur trappers for quite some time.

 

  1. Do you make traps larger enough for dogs or coyotes?

No, I'm sorry but we don't offer traps that size any longer. The biggest trap we now make is the model 1081: 42" x 15" x 15"

 

  1. Will my Havahart squirrel trap catch a rat?

Yes, traps small enough to accommodate small squirrels should work equally well on rats. See our complete list of cage traps for various sized animals.

 

  1. What would I use to trap live moles, rather than kill?

Moles cannot be trapped live in an effective way. The best way to manage or eliminate a mole infestion is through the use of lethal traps. Victor sells a variety of mole traps that will help solve your problem.

 

  1. After catching a skunk, when should I approach it?

Skunks are nocturnal animals, so you may have more success when approaching them in the daytime. However, as long as they do not see much movement they will not spray regardless of the time of day.

 

  1. If I catch a mouse how should I release it?

You would want to release the mouse far enough away so that they won't come back. A couple hundred yards should do the trick. I hope this helps.

 

  1. Is the Havahart Mole Repellent safe for animals and birds?

The Mole Repellent is non-toxic. However, the main ingredient is castor oil. It will not affect birds, but if a cat or dog ingests enough, they could have digestion difficulties. (In other words, you'd be cleaning up a lot!) It's best to keep dogs and cats off the lawn for a few hours after application.

 

  1. How do I keep rabbits from living under our porch or house?

You could use scare tactics, repellents, or fencing. Read our rabbit problems and solutions page for details and tips.

 

  1. Are nutria vicious animals? Do they see well out of water?

Nutria are herbaceous animals, which means they are plant eaters. They are not vicious by nature. As for seeing out of water, they are like a beaver, and see as well as one. Get more information about nutria at our web site.


  

  1. Will animals still go to the trap if they can smell human scent on it?

If you handle the cage with gloves, or have limited contact with the cage, there should be no human scent. Please see our trapping tips for more information.

 

  1. How often should I spray Deer-Off??

One thorough application lasts up to three months (always spray new growth); rain or snow will not wash it off. DEER-OFF will not change the color or texture of plants and will not leave any white film or residue on the leaves.

 

  1. How much Deer-Off? should I use?

The NEW 16 oz. ready-to-use spray bottle treats approximately 25 flowers and ornamental shrubs 4 ft. high (approx. 250 sq. ft.) and the 32 oz. ready-to-use spray treats approximately 50 flowers and ornamental shrubs 4 ft. high. The 32 oz. easily-mixed concentrate yields 2 gallons (8 qts.) and treats 400 flowers and ornamental shrubs 4 ft. high (approximately 4,000 sq. ft.) The 128 oz. easily-mixed concentrate yields 8 gallons(32 qts.).