Trapping Critters for Catch and Release Using Live Traps
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ต.ค. 2024
- Dealing with wild animals can often be a problem for people growing a garden, raising chickens, etc. Raccoons, groundhogs, squrriels, and foxes can destroy a lot of your hard work and efforts. An easy and efficient way to address the animal problems is to use live traps, like the Havaharts. They are simple to operate, do a good job of catching the animals, and allow you the option to do catch and release.
Many times, you will catch something other than your intended target. You need to pay close attention to the behavior of the animals when deciding how to proceed. If that animal looks or acts like it may have rabies, it's probably best NOT to try and release it. You have to use your own judgement. But whatever you do, NEVER put yourself in a situation where your act of kindness could end up causing you bodily harm.
Thank you so much for going through the whole process. I had to watch 4 videos to find one that showed me how to release the trap door. Especially with a hissing scared animal in the trap. Great video!
A man that respects nature for what it is, we need more people like Bobby.
If I had waited a few more days, I could have added groundhog to the list. I finally got the rascal that was munching on my sweet taters.
I knew a guy that owned a car lot that used to catch raccoon's and possum with those live traps, instead of taking them somewhere and letting them loose he would shoot them in the head with a 22 pistol while they were still in the cage. I asked him what use there was in using a live trap if he was just going to kill them anyway! It's good to see you just take them somewhere else and let them go! God Bless you man!
Depending on where you live you can't use other types of traps so if he wanted them dead but couldn't use a kill trap that's probably why.
The face only a mother could love, haha....You're not kidding. Cheers to catch and release!
Thanks. I agree, there is too much time and effort put into gardening to allow the animals to just have their way. Especially when you think about the damage they can do in a very short time.
I have no idea. Things just get done. I'm not close to being retired, by definition anyways. But being self employed, I can set my own schedule. And if I work extra hard, me and my family benefit from it...not a boss somewhere else. That itself is a very motivating factor. Thanks Randy.
"Undisclosed?"
We all know you dropped them off at your mother in-laws place.
Awesome tutorial man. You have a smooth and entertaining way of explaining things. Thanks so much!
Thank you, Bobby! I'm glad your video is still here. I caught a racoon instead of the woodchuck, and I was afraid, but you walked me through it. I used a bungee cord as the pull rope. Worked well.
Thank you for being a good human that understanding they were just hungry. You are a good teacher for understanding and humanity! :)
I used to have a few dozen chickens 25years ago. When varmints strike, I know. A bob-cat will just take one cleanly, just disappear. A fox will cause a ruckus, loud struggle and a lot of feathers. again, just one. I did not mind those hungry critters have the right to live too. A possum like eggs and chicks. Raccoons are devil incarnate. They can unlatch most locks, paws are like small human hands. When they get in, they will kill ALL living things. When trapped they didn't get relocated like others. Squirrels, rats, mice and others can't bite thru steel drums for feed.
Funny! My husband and I were all set to do this to capture a groundhog BUT you made me think about a couple of things. That we could catch a fox or raccoon and that something could be rabid. No other videos brought that up so it is obvious you have way more experience than most folks and more sense. So this TN woman is going to leave it to a professional! The last guys that did this for us did catch one coon before getting the groundhog and I'm a bit scared of raccoons (rabid or not)! Thanks again!
It was cool to see them take off into the woods.
Before I bring in the chickens, I'll set these traps every night for several weeks, trying to catch everything around here. And I'll do everything I can to make the henhouse as animal proof as possible. Chickens and wild animals just don't mix very well. Thanks Deb.
Awww, possums are so CUTE :) Really pleased you release the animals you trap - good things will come back to you for your kindness. Thanks for all the gardening tips, it's great stuff. Thanks so much for sharing :)
this is the best vid with best advice! thx!
723lion Thank you.
Hey amigo. Glad you caught the culprit. I've had lots of problems with raccoons, and I've gotten quite good at trapping them. They can't resist friskies cat food. It has to be friskies. Not sure why, but they won't turn it down. Put the friskies UNDER the plate. A smart raccoon will go into the trap, and take the bait out without springing it, but if they have to claw around under the trigger plate, you'll get them every time. Just a suggestion from my experiences.
I used marshmallows with the cuff trap awhile back, and did well. So I put them in the live traps and bingo !
Thanks. Using the string was the safest way I could think of. I wanted to be on the opposite end, so the animals would have a wide open space to leave.
Once again some great information. Thank you for sharing so much with all of us. Blessings!
Nice demo... when you do get your chickens, just make sure to build solid coops and those night hunters won't get in with them... thanks for the video... I also use the marshmallows...
+Frederick Dunn Exactly, invest in underwiring. Will save you a lot of dead chickens and headaches.
Thanks Bobby. We use these same traps and have gotten 5 raccoons and 3 possum this year. We do have chickens and started setting them when we saw what happened to Mrs. Volfe's chickens. Great video.
Very well done and stated. I am about to go and release 2 pine martens (they act similar to that fox when you are handling the trap, and they do like to hunt everything in your back yard from song birds to your small pets) from another style trap with the rings that hold the door closed, so you can roll the trap 180 and then when the rings fall toward the ground the door should open. This has inspired me to perhaps take my spouse along as the camera person and also do a video on using those traps safely.
Years ago I marked a squirrel on his rear with a spot of fluorescent orange spray paint before I released him a couple of km's away from home. Then later when at home having dinner my spouse calls me from the back yard and says, "honey, come and look at this squirrel sitting on the fence, he's got a bright orange bum!". My spouse also claims that from that time on she noticed that aversively conditioned squirrel, whom she claimed now suffered from PTSD, couldn't find any female squirrel mates, so I hid the paint because she threatened to paint my rear end so I could see how I liked going out in public like that. (Apparently she was fonder of that squirrel than me.)
So today, no paint, ear tags, or GPS tracking collars, and I plan to drive a few KM's more before the release, I'm afraid if they come back next time they may not be as keen to get chicken stir fry in a trap.
+First Aid What happened with the squirrel?
What I would do is mark the animal with dye. While it was in the trap, just pour some red dye or something on it. The color should stay on him for awhile. At least long enough for you to find out if there is more than one.
We have 5 Feral cats around our house and will be trapping them soon and then the City will come and pick them up. So sad that some people do not Neuter their animals and leave a mess for others. I have not trapped any animals since the 50's, however I still remember how. I remember trapping a menagerie of animals, including birds in box-traps, but the most difficult was trapping a skunk and they smelled up the trap a lot. Formalin works good to eradicate the smell. This is informative and I was not very up to date, because I made my own box-traps when I was a child. Thanks!
Thx bro. Me too. They make it much easier to protect my gardens.
Coyotes eating melons....thats a new one on me. Maybe they are just thirsty? Either that or they have very good taste in vegetables....cuz I like watermelon too ! LOL
One mother and 3 baby raccoons hanging out on my back deck. Yeah during the summer two of my cats go outside.
I really appreciate your video.
Sheeesh..29 squirrels... are you sure they didn't get back to the car each time before you did and catch a ride back home? LOL Do you have any cats? Ours just love to hunt squirrels.
I had the same problem last year with squirrels. I bought a trap for squirrels late summer last year. I trapped and released a bunch of them throught the fall. I even caught a few rats, but I didn't relocate them. I have seen a few squirrels this year, but I have seen very little damage from them. I tried to trap them with no luck. I will wait until the fall to try again when there isn't as much food around for them. Nice video, Bobby
Hey Bobby, how on earth do you have enough time to do everything. You don't look old enough to be retired. I wish that I lived next door to you so I could help you and learn from you. My garden never produces like yours does and I wish I had more time to spend working in it. You are truly an amazing man and I know God has a special place for you.
Good night Irene, lololololool, great teaching and the Good Book says that a little laughter is good for the soul:) Thank you for sharing and God Bless all !
I like how it takes animals a second to recognize they’re free and bolt
i love that you release them....the fox was beautiful i've never seen a grey coloured one before just red ones up here.. much respect to you ol fella.... i grew up in the boreal forests of northwestern ontario canada... where nature and wild animals are boss... co-existing with them while gardening is not hard to do with a little effort and preventive measures....
Thats true Sheila. You always have to be paying attention. Speaking of bats..I can't remember the last time I saw one. They used to be all around in the evenings, and now they're all gone.
Our cats don't tolerate squirrels. I think the similarities to rats gets the squirrels in trouble ! LOL Thx bro.
I've never dealt with wood chucks, so I don't really know. I did use cantaloupe for the ground hog.
I use old blankets and wrap them around the cage (very carefully) and carry the animal that way to the release spot. I can then tip the back end of the cage up while pulling up the trap door (tricky, and I have to use two hands to release the catch and pull up the door part way, then I grab the back end of the trap which is double wrapped in the blanket and tip it up. Raccoons sometimes take a moment to get the idea, but they run out after a few seconds. For skunks, the blanket is essential, and you should put it over the trap entirely, except for the entrance, when you set it. Then you can transport the critter without getting sprayed. And when you let it out, it might take a minute and go part way out and back in a few times, but eventually it will go out, and it won't spray you.)
Chickens are on my list. I just haven't gotten to them yet. I said something to my wife today about gathering fresh eggs, and she said " no way, there might be a snake in the box. " Oh well, as long as she cooks the eggs, I reckon I can bring them in. :-)
As long as you don't hurt them it's a good thing! They are just looking for food & ways to survive.
Fortunately, we don't have those armored possums around here. :)
That's mighty sporting of you, neighbor - you let the possum free first, to give him a running start before the fox could catch him. If you'd done it the other way, the possum wouldn't have gotten very far....
Yep....thats definitely something else to consider. Most times the Mommas are pretty easy to spot.
What did you use for bait? I'm still trying to catch the groundhog thats eating my sweet taters. I have some corn in it tonight, been using cantalope. ... And that watery stuff from the sky is called RAIN..... I hear its on the endangered list in many parts of the country.
Thanks. Sounds like possums worldwide have a mean streak.
So nice to see you release them, last summer I trapped 29 ground squirrels and relocated them. Good not to release them too close or they'll be back and not on someone else's property. It was nice to see them go.
Illegal to relocate
Hehe..yea, he was behaving so well. That dog barking caught me off guard a bit.
Sounds like you had a mean one. The foxes I've seen around here have been fairly small and thin, not overly aggressive.
Its cool to see the animals up so close. If I could talk to them like Dr Dolittle, maybe we could reach some kind of understanding. :-)
Thank bro.
Yes mam. a little laughter is great..... I try to have fun with whatever I do, as long as I'm safe about it.
I'm glad those animals were released. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you mam.
Hehe..yea, that possum wasn't too smart. The fox was just showing off for the camera. He had been very polite up until then. Thanks TJ.
I don't think we have chipmunks around here. I've never seen them anyways. LOL..don't trust any of them huh? I'll try to keep an eye on them.
I just love your southern accent.
just a note on the possum they will eat your melons, they start at the blossom end then hollow out the fruit. thanks for all the great vids.
Thank you sir.
Good thoughtful advice. I don't have any traps yet, so I've been using my kid's paintball guns
to try and keep the squirrels out of my tomatoes. It's not very effective in keeping them out of the garden, but it's kinda fun seeing them scramble...
You gots all sorts of animals there Bobby! At the farm we caught a BIG coon once. He was eating all the cat food, and living in the barn walls. He barely fit in that trap though, lol. Also, it was used to catch a feral cat one time, so she could be taken to get fixed. They work pretty good. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Great idea using the string!
Yep, gotta be careful when they are inside the cage. Those little claws can reach out and grab you, doing some damage. Yes sir... the hydroponic lettuce is up and running. I'm saving the video update right now. Hoping to have it uploaded for tomorrow night. It's been pretty warm here, but the lettuce is off to a good start.
Thank you very much.
Yes, and plenty more.
Yes mam....its a good idea to know the laws in everything you do these days. You just never know anymore.
Amazing video. I'm a yankee and it worked anyway!
Thanks..... now, if I could just figure out how to trap me a new Ford truck. ;-)
Great direction and commentary thank you.
Thanks for the kind words. ;-)
It is pretty much impossible for a possum to get or have rabies but they can be some pretty mean little craps.They also like fruits and veggies and will destroy a garden.Great video and like others said that fox was pretty funny.
Marshmallows.
Thanks. Well, if I caught a skunk, I'd have to call for backup...LOL I've talked to some folks who were sprayed by a skunk, and they didn't like it at all. Its a smell that stays with you for a very long time. Some how or other, he'd have to come out. I reckon I'll cross that bridge when I get there. :-)
Thank you very much it really helped me plus I'm a female😊
Great Video!!!!!!!! You made it soooooo easy THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!
LOL.... I know the feeling. If mine doesn't sleep well, it's best not to bother her early in the morning.
Great video. Great tips and advice. Have a super blessed day!🌞
You're welcome. A little compassion is a good thing. :-)
when the fox sounds like your dog sleeping
I sat through that whole video waiting for you to show how to set the old style trap, lol
Good job. I'm setting one tonight to catch the fox that's been running off with my chickens.
We had plenty of rats when I was growing up. They'd get in the hog and chicken feed all the time. We set huge traps for them. And sometimes the traps would disappear. Those rats were just huge. I hope you catch whatever is eating the maters.
Hello from East Texas......this video was educational and funny....Brilliant!
After losing half my muskmelons , I got the ground hog. (live trap) still have fence up. planted winter carrots today. I'll be glad to put this year in the book. More watery stuff fell from the sky today, googling it now to see what it may be...
I NEED to get one of those traps!
Feel they are a much better option than a traditional leg hold trap.
I've never had a problem with possums in the garden. They usually go for the cat food. I know they can be pretty nasty, but they've never caused any trouble around here.
Just a note of caution you may want to extend to your viewers about the subject . Be familiar with State and County laws concerning the trapping and moving of wildlife.Some places can be VERY fickle about that whole process, and knowing the laws can keep you outta a whole lot of hot water :) Keep em comin!
Great vid, thanks I enjoyed it. I'm a southern boy and would have been not as trusting when it came to releasing that fox. I have a friend that lost a chihuahua to a fox before he finally trapped it. Anyway that took some courage and you should be commended for it. Keep up the great work. Hello from Texarkana Arkansas and God bless.
great idea, much better than what i was thinking lol, thanks for the reply and such a great simple way of doing it
I love this video, those critters are so cute.
Thank you mam. :-)
The Havahart # 1083 is the best trap to use now.
The best solution to a squirrel problem is the Havahart #1083 "Easy Set One-Door Cage Trap for Squirrels and Small Rabbits" I used to use the Havahart 1030 but I have upgraded to the 1083 and now have 3 of them. It only has 1 door which makes it much shorter and I thus need a much smaller tropical fish tank to drown them in.
This is the most humane way I have found to dispose of grey squirrels and I try and keep the water reasonably clean. The smaller tank uses less water. But most importantly 1-door traps are not only MUCH easier to set but they are also much easier to bait because the squirrel can only enter from 1 direction so the bait only needs to be behind the walk-on platform. You don’t have to “balance” the mechanism the bait sits on, thus the 1083 is also a much faster trap to bait.
The other great thing about this trap is that I never have any "set off" by birds. Every time this trap closes, there is a squirrel inside. The 1030 trap was frequently catching small birds, which was a huge waste of time. Use cheap peanut butter for bait. And lure them into the trap with a few shelled peanuts. I then consistently take the carcas to the exact same place in a nearby woods for predators to find. I like to think this causes predators/scavengers to hunt rabbits and other small game much less frequently.
At night, I place mouse traps inside the closed 1083 so that only mice can get into them. (this keeps small birds out of the traps) I was surprised to discover a mouse infestation, that I was completely unaware of. The first 8 days I did this, I caught 14 mice behind our garage.
I'm so glad he didn't hurt the Fox, they will do a good job of keeping his garden free of rats, rabbits and mice. That's my problem the Rabbits are eating everything that and the deer. The deer came on the front porch and ate my geraniums even.
Thanks... even the ugly little possum had a cute side to him. :-)
Great video!Thanks for all the great information.
I was layin wit my eyes closed waitin for you to say take your strong hand.
fun to watch and great instructions, nice video,
Very well made with great advice.
Nice work with the traps.
The possums here in Australia are a bit nicer looking than the possums there. That can make them look a bit deceptive. As cute as that look they will bit and scratch if they feel threaten.
Beautiful grey fox.
That is way too high. Tractor Supply has them for a lot less, as do other places. What is doing the rooting in the ground?