Trapping & Removal :: Terrier Technologies LLC

Live Trapping with Baits & Lures

Live trapping is one of the most common forms of trapping used to remove nuisance wildlife. Live traps, otherwise known as box traps or cage traps, are most commonly constructed from heavy duty wire mesh. Most trap designs incorporate a treadle pan that the animal steps on to set off the trap and capture the animal.

In most cases, appealing baits or lures will be utilized to coax the animal into the trap to be captured. Baits can be trailed into the trap and then placed behind the treadle pan along with lure. While in pursuit of the bait and or lure in the rear of the trap the animal then steps on the treadle pan, closing the trap.

The trap design along with the species of animal, time of year, weather and trapping location will dictate the most effective bait and or lure presentation to the target animal. Live traps can be highly effective when utilized properly. Non- target captures can be an issue. The capture of non-target animals is sometimes unavoidable dependent upon the trapping location and accessibility. In this situation, non-target animals can easily be released on site.

Comstock Multi-purpose Trap

Comstock Double Door Trap

Drift fences can be used as an aid to live trapping with baits and lures. This is done by using a barrier to direct the animals travel path into a trap at the end of the fence. This method can be useful when trapping for transient wildlife that is roaming through a yard with no burrow or den on the property.

Drift Fence

Positive control trapping is a form of trapping that places a trap in the animal’s travel path. This is done by placing a trap directly over an entry point. In the cases where there is a gap between the trap and the entry point a barricade is created to direct the animal into the trap.

Hardware cloth is most commonly used to create a barricade for roof entries. On the ground, Digg Defence, stones or hardware cloth are used to create a barricade.

When using this trapping method, exclusion of all entry points must be done prior to setting traps. Then, the positive control set can be placed over the main entry point.

Since positive control trapping relies on restricting the animal’s travel path or funneling animals into a trap bait is not needed. Live traps can still be utilized but because the animal is forced into the trap bait is unnecessary.

The goal of positive control trapping is to catch only the target animals and speed up the removal process. Only the animals using an entry point will be caught in the traps avoiding non-target catches. For instance, with squirrel trapping only squirrels entering/exiting structure will be caught, not neighborhood squirrels that could be caught when using baited live traps.

When using this method for animals that are active during the day such as groundhogs, a double door trap is effective in catching animals when coming or going. Double door traps allow the animal to be caught whether it is inside or outside the structure at the time traps are set.

Positive control trapping requires critical thinking, knowledge of the species, a good understanding of the overall situation, creativity, and adaptation. When implemented effectively, this method can be very efficient and extremely effective in removing on the target animal(s).

Groundhog Burrow Positive Set

Positive Set for Skunk

Ridge Vent End Positive Set for Squirrels

Exhaust Vent Positive Set

Gable Vent Positive Set

Tomahawk Power Fan Trap

Lethal traps are traps designed to quickly kill the animal that is caught. This is typically done with a mechanical blow. Types of lethal traps include snap-traps, body-gripping traps and mole traps.

Lethal traps come in many shapes and sizes. They can cover a wide range of species from tiny rodents to much larger fur bearing mammals. When set properly, lethal traps can be one of the most effective methods of trapping available. Much like barricade trapping, lethal traps can be used in a funneling manner, set directly over entry and exit points as well as travel ways. They can also be used with great effectiveness with baits and lures in many situations with multiple species.

Lethal traps when set and maintained properly can offer very quick and ethical euthanasia. It should be the goal of anyone using lethal traps to quickly and effectively capture and euthanize the target animal. To accomplish this level of efficacy, the operator must have a comprehensive understanding of their target animal's habits and the traps operational capacity.

The biggest consideration when implementing lethal trapping should be safety. Questions such as: Are there any non-target animals (domestic or wild) with access to the trap location? Is the trap location safe from children or others that may be unaware of the safety concerns? Is the trap location visible to those who may find this method offensive? If you cannot substantiate reliable answers to questions surrounding safety or otherwise concerning topics, as relative to implementing a lethal method of trapping, then lethal traps should not be used.

Conibear Trap

Snap Trap

Species that are usually removed using lethal trapping methods include moles, gophers, beavers, muskrats, mice and voles. For other species that are typically removed using live traps, such as raccoons, squirrels and groundhogs, make sure to check with a supervisor before resorting to lethal trapping.

In areas where state and/or local DNR laws require trapped animals that are removed from property to be euthanized, we do offer an alternative to customers who are not comfortable with this.

Varment Guardian approach must be coupled with Exclusion work (quoted separately) to be effective!

With our Varment Guardian plan, we provide animal control with a no-euthanize approach via removal using a one-way door. The exact approach will be determined once on site. In addition, the technician will survey the exterior of the home to locate any entry points and will provide a separate proposal for any exclusion work needed to prevent future animal entry. Removal of animals inside or underneath structures is performed along with the exclusion to get and keep animals out of attics, crawl spaces, decks, sheds etc.

Which animals are a good option for Varment Guardian? – Any animal that must be euthanized by state law if removed from the property. The animal must also be getting into or under a structure. (Foxes, raccoons)

Which animals are not a good option for Varment Guardian? – Any animal that can be relocated by state law, animals that are being trapped for population control and not in or under a structure. (i.e. moles, gophers, nomadic skunks)