Been using bucket traps for years, but stopped floating birdseed a long time ago. The seed doesn't float for long & the bucket get nasty after a few catches... (bird seed gets expensive) & I find it is not needed.
Been making these for years & they work great: (& cost me basically nothing)
(1) 4.5 - 5 gal bucket, I usually get them from a construction site for free. Two small holes drilled at the top across from each other big enough for the dowel listed below
(1) small wooden dowel; I've actually been using fiberglass driveway markers I get for free from a plowing / landscaping company when they have damaged ones. Just cut it long enough to be 2 -3" wider than the bucket you using.
(1) Plastic Water Bottle with cap - drill holes in the bottom & the cap just slightly larger than the dowel above.
(1) Scrap piece of wood for the ramp (usually a piece of scrap plywood)
(1) Rubber Band - to hold the ramp, so they don't knock it off
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Basically after it is assembled I add very small amounts (dabs) of peanut butter to the center of the bottle & stick a few bird seeds to the peanut butter... (sometimes I will put a small smear of peanut butter on the inside of the bucket opposite ramp).
Add the water (I will use the RV non-toxic antifreeze in cold months) to the bucket & it done. They never get the peanut butter or the seed before dropping in.
The only thing to make sure during assembly is the water bottle spin super freely....
Oh & I hang a piece of scrap wire on the side of the bucket to pull the mice out of the bucket... save me from always dumping the bucket.
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