Live Traps

There are two types of traps to be used for controlling pests. There are the "trap and release" live traps, and the other type is the lethal trap. Both are effective against one or two little animals, such as a raccoon or a skunk, it would not be used well against a whole area of prairie dogs. Local wildlife professionals, or professional pest removal companies, use traps or whichever way they can to safely and calmly remove the little critter. But traps can also be used by the person who owns the home the skunk is stalking and spraying, or the raccoon has crawled into the attic.

The catch and release live traps are the most widely used, as most individuals simply want the critter out of their home or off their property. The ones who use the lethal traps usually are interested in the pelts or furs to sell. But the majority of people have nothing against the little fuzzy creature that is inhabiting their space, they simple do not want to share it.

It seems rather easy to simply trap a little creature and move it somewhere else. But they will often become disorientated and starve to death, especially if their new habitat is not what they know, not having the food type or shelter they need. So if this is an option for you, contact the Humane Society, local or state game officers. They will inform you of the best method to use for transferring the creature, what time is best to trap it, how to release the animal before setting the trap. And most important, every state has laws to protect some of these animals.

The thing to remember is that any wild animal will bite if threatened or they are afraid. And rabies is very common in wild animals, skunks spray if they are frightened, raccoons will bite and scratch, and little squirrels bite very hard.

To use the live traps, baiting is usually done with the animals favorite food types: raccoons and opossums like sardines, cat food, or corn; skunks like anything that has a fish odor so fish scraps or seafood-flavored foot types are good; and little woodchucks enjoy beans, carrots, and apples. Regardless, the food is placed in specific target areas—the skunk likes to enter deep and dark areas so placing a tarp over the trap is a good idea while placing the food deep inside. Placing a live trap near a burrow entrance for a woodchuck only in the summer is best, mainly because in the spring the young babies may still be in the burrow and the fall is their preparation for hibernation.