More Than One Way To Catch a Critter...

[Runner]

Maybe this post would be better off in the "Harbor Freight Tools that Suck" thread, but here goes. See, I've been having this ground hog problem for a couple of years. They're fine when they stay out back, but when they start digging around my foundation (ruining my new landscaping job) and making holes in my evaporation pond dam, that's when I have to do something.

So, I bought a cage trap from Harbor Freight and set it up outside the hole with apples, carrots and other goodies for bait. Next time I checked the trap, it was sprung, the bait was gone but no ground hog. This happened several times and I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.

So, I'm mowing my back yard one day and I surprise the ground hog. He runs into a hole in a tree that he likes to hide in. I think "This is my big chance to get him". So, I jump off the tractor, run over and get the trap. I set it up outside the hole in the tree and block off all the other entrances with concrete blocks.

Then, I have to figure out a way to get him to leave the safety of the tree. So happens, there is a knot hole in the tree, so I stick a garden hose in there and let her rip. (At this point, it looks just like a scene from Caddyshack, dragging the hose between my legs and all....).

So, I turned the hose on and out he comes, into the trap. Springs the trap and the door closes. Problem is, the structure isn't strong enough to hold him and he pushes the door open and escapes. This happens TWICE before I finally figure out that I need to block the trap door so he can't push it back open.

So, THIS time, I run to the shed and grab a piece of rebar to slide in between the trap door and the sides of the trap. Bingo, he can't open the door. I safety wire the door with bailing wire and off he goes to be "relocated".

Third time was a charm.

I wonder if anyone makes a better trap for this kind of stuff?

 

[Bluelick]

I bet that was one PO'ed groundhog! At least they put a metal shield under the handle to you don't get your knuckles gnawed!

 

[Travelover]

Great story.:laughing:

Used to buy Havahart brand back in the day - they even held PO'd 'coons.

 

[beenthere]

Get a Havahart trap. What you show is apparently a chinese knockoff of the Havahart.

I've had one for a good number of years, and probably caught a half dozen groundhogs, a few skunks, some large feral cats, and at least a 100 racoons.

None have ever managed to push the door open from the inside.

That was a clever way to get that hog outta that hole in the tree.

 

[Freds]

It's hard to tell what the problem might be without seeing the trap up close. Are you sure you have it "set" right so the trap door locks? I pulled my havahart trap out a couple weeks ago for the same purpose, to catch a groundhog that was burrowing under the perimeter fence surrounding my kennel. He was leaving holes a small dog could have easily slipped through. I threw a couple peaches in there and gave him a free meal because I had not flipped the locking mechanism over so it would keep the door from being pushed open. Duh. I guess I overlooked that part, lol. Anyway, I caught two in three days and am pretty sure I got the culprit. Those havaharts appear to be beefier than that one in your pic, but I can't imagine a trap that the door doesn't lock properly.

 

[Runner]

The door seems to be locking as intended, but there's so much "flex" that the critter can bend it out enough to slip through.

Sounds like the Havaheart traps are stronger so I'll see if I can find one. I have two or three more ground hogs that I still need to relocate. Those things are incredibly strong and heavier than they look....

 

[jinman]

I bought a trap from TSC and it seems to work fine. I just think your HF trap may be defective or too weak. It would probably work great for rabbits, cats, and other less-determined animals. Raccoons are the toughest to catch and keep. They will try every imaginable thing to get out of a trap. If a trap door can be defeated, a 'coon will find the way.

Oh yeah... Your "tree trap" picture is priceless.

 

[Runner]

"It would probably work great for rabbits, cats, and other less-determined animals."

Actually, I did catch an opossum in there once by accident and it held him/her fine.

As for the "tree trap" there's a little story there too. The previous owner of the property called that the "smoking tree" because he once had a burn pile too close to it and the inside of the tree caught fire. He cut the "knot hole" with a chain saw and put a hose in there to douse the fire.

Anyway, the knot hole came in handy for flushing out the hog.

Incidentally, the hog looked like a circus performer shot out of a cannon when released from the trap. Cleared a three foot ditch and took off into the brush.

 

[Jim Thompson]

I keep three traps set pretty much all the time to trap squirrels, raccoons and possum. I have 10 pecan trees and it's astounding the damage that one squirrel can do. Before I started trapping them, there would be 8 -10 in any one tree every day.
Using the Havahart traps, I catch and relocate in excess of 10 squirrels per week. Have caught a number of possum and raccoons but none recently. They don't usually show up until the weather is cooler and the pecans mature.

Jim

 

[bullbreaker]

Using the Havahart traps, I catch and relocate in excess of 10 squirrels per week.



Jim:I use to do the same thing.Make sure your "blindfolding"those squirrels or they will find their way back!




(just kidding of course)Don't get bite though!
Boone