Possum getting away

[tallyho8]

Since our chickens starting disappearing I have been trapping and night hunting to find/get the culprits.

I have trapped a couple of possum fairly easy and then I keep missing this one who always manages to eat the bait without tripping the trap.

I figured that he wasn't stepping on the foot pedal hard enough to spring the trap so I wired the bait to the top of the trap switch so that when he pulled on the bail it would trip.

Still no possum. Possum photos every night and he eats all the bait every night at different times but never trips the trap.

I have lubed the trap and set it where the slightest touch will set it off but the possum still fails to trip it.

I never see him at night when I go looking for him so I can't shoot him.

What now?

 

[/pine]

This has always worked for me...

...get a 20 gallon metal garbage can and grease the inside walls...put a can of dog food in the bottom of the can and lean a board up (ramp) to the edge...

 

[Mousefield]

We have both a mink and raccoon trap that looks like yours. Found we had to have one end closed and we had to wire the bait close to the closed end, this way they had to reach over and hopefully step on the trip lever inside. Hope this helps.

 

[texasjohn]

How about a snare.... I've caught possum's with them as well. Only down side is colatteral damage, but looks like he's a regular and your camera tells you if other critters are also visiting the area.

 

[jinman]

I say it's time for a new trap. Mine catches possums and cats very well. I bought a set, large/small, at Tractor Supply and they work great. I put the bait all the way in the back and when they step on the trip platform, BANG! They are mine!:laughing:

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Get a 220 conibear. Place it at the entrance to your existing trap.

 

[tallyho8]

Get a 220 conibear. Place it at the entrance to your existing trap.

Can't do that. Our photos show dogs and cats visiting the trap at night and our rooster going by in the morning but none going in it.

 

[jimoq]

This garbage can trick is the best bet. You don't even have to grease the sides, possums don't/can't jump so if you have a shiney can he's caught and a cat or dog can get right out. A smelly bait works best, try sardines. They work well for the cage traps too. Just punch a few little holes so teh oil comes out and wire the can to the trigger. Po-Sam will forget to be slick when he's licking the goody.

 

[jinjimbob]

How are they getting your chickens, are they not fully enclosed? If not, there is the reason. You kill one opossum, another will replace it, an so on.

 

[two_bit_score]

tallyho8, put the bait UNDER the trap. That way he will smell it and know it's there but will have to work to get it and should trip the trap. Might be a good idea to pin the trap down with some tent stakes so he can't turn it over to get the bait.

I have a trap like that and it hasn't worked well since a big 'coon stayed the night in it and bent up the trip rod trying to find a way out. I put the bait under the trap now and it works better.

 

[tallyho8]

tallyho8, put the bait UNDER the trap. That way he will smell it and know it's there but will have to work to get it and should trip the trap. Might be a good idea to pin the trap down with some tent stakes so he can't turn it over to get the bait.

I have a trap like that and it hasn't worked well since a big 'coon stayed the night in it and bent up the trip rod trying to find a way out. I put the bait under the trap now and it works better.

This sounds good, I will try it tonight.
Here is my photo from last night.

WHAT IS IT?

I edited the photo as well as I could but I am not sure what it is though I do have an idea.

 

[Dozernut]

Get a cheap can of Tuna or potted meat and punch some holes in it. Then wire it in the back of the trap. They will trip the trap door trying to get at the meat in the can. This worked for me in catching a coon that was doing a Houdini act.

 

[MossRoad]

This sounds good, I will try it tonight.
Here is my photo from last night.

WHAT IS IT?

I edited the photo as well as I could but I am not sure what it is though I do have an idea.

Fox or coyote is my guess.

 

[Redbug]

That's a grey fox.

 

[AMR]

After I catch one raccoon they figure out how to reach through the cage to pull the bait out, they can't resist marshmallows, same with possums. I then pile rocks around and on the top of the bait end of the cage so they can't reach in and I will catch a couple more in the following week or two and the infestation is usually over for the year after that.

 

[Freds]

Looks like a Chupacabra.
:laughing:

That idea of setting the bait underneath the trap is a goodun. I'm going to remember that.

 

[bdeboer]

I use a big messy glob of peanut butter on bread and stick to the trap.

 

[Unregistered2013]

please consider have-a-heart traps, and releasing him elsewhere --

Havahart® Live Animal Traps, The Trusted Animal Trap Brand For Over 60 Years | Havahart®

shooting and killing everything that is trying to live naturally around your domestic setup is a little outdated and cruel --

-- and if you ever meet these animals in the afterlife, they'll treat you muccchhhh nicer if you trapped and released elsewhere, instead of shooting them in a barrel -- or death by drowining --

-- drowning especially is just plain cruel.

 

[tallyho8]

please consider have-a-heart traps, and releasing him elsewhere --

Havahartｮ Live Animal Traps, The Trusted Animal Trap Brand For Over 60 Years | Havahartｮ

shooting and killing everything that is trying to live naturally around your domestic setup is a little outdated and cruel --

-- and if you ever meet these animals in the afterlife, they'll treat you muccchhhh nicer if you trapped and released elsewhere, instead of shooting them in a barrel -- or death by drowining --

-- drowning especially is just plain cruel.

I have caught many raccoons and squirrels the past couple of years and brought them to a friend's place 8 miles away. She has a large place and she feeds them in her barn like cats and dogs. It is unnerving to walk in her barn at night and see about 50 sets of eyes staring at you in the dark.

I leave the rabbits and snakes alone except for poisonous snakes that are too close to my house.

I relocate small alligators. Large ones must be killed by state law.

Ever since one of my young horses got possum disease I have added possums to the list of nutria, mice and rats which must face extermination.

I have only seen one fox and one coyote on my property and this is probably one of them in my photo. I would like to relocate it but am not sure how to catch it to do so.

 

[Chilly807]

That's a coyote, if you do have them locally. Too big for a fox, and not much tail visible either. Put the lead to 'em, they'll eat whatever small critters you have around otherwise.