live trap question - whats the best model?

[Gadgetman]

So I have something digging big holes around a couple of my shrubs by the house, and it isnt my dog. I live on a lake and have seen/shot many coons. The problem is they dig a hole and I fill it back in and a few days later it will reappear. I am afraid that it could be my neighbors dog, or maybe mine is sneaking off when I am not looking so normal traps are out. I dont know anything about live traps but looked at them yesterday. It appears that you can get one that is open on one end, or a model that is open on both ends. which model is going to do the best job for my problems? What are the different applications for the two different models. The hole digging is driving me nuts and will kill my shrubs eventually, help! Any suggestions for what I should use for bait? I was thinking tuna...

[LightningBG]

Set up a trail cam to see what it is.

[hydro]

Sounds a lot like woodchucks. Not easy to get them into a live trap.

In the early morning, take a look around the yard to see if they are out there snakcing. That's the best time to get a look.

[harvey lee]

Just a suggestion. It may be beneficial for you to also post this in the Varmits and trapping forum for more responses.

[Erin_Meyer]

Havahart double ended works great for squirrels. Its about 8 inches by 8 inches by 20 inches. But it kind of sounds like a stripped kitty to me. In that case a little fly bait and some coke will work better but it will not discriminate, or grandpa always swore by shelled corn soaked in whiskey for a day, then just pick up the critter and remove with just a headache when he wakes up.

[Ufatz]

It DOES sound like a woodchuck or a skunk or even a civet cat.....little animal like a skunk. HavaHart makes three sizes of trap and we own them all. We have relocated many critters over the past ten years and killed not one, including raccoons.

Buy the medium sized trap and try it. Easy to use and easy to get the critters out when you move 'em.

Be gentle.......we all gotta eat, even the little critters.

[BLACKJACK]

In that case a little fly bait and some coke will work better but it will not discriminate,

Friend of mine killed his dog recently just that way, using fly bait for poison, just hearing him describe the dog laying in his arms - shivering and dying - makes you shudder.

Poison sounds like the easy way out - until it kills YOUR pet.

[BLACKJACK]

I doubt its a woodchuck, they graze on grass, the only holes they dig are for burrows. Could be a skunk or raccoon but they'd be digging small holes, looking for the grubs. My guess is a dog.

I'd go with the double approach, a live trap and a regular trap. Get the biggest Havahart trap you can, a big trap will catch small and large critters, bait it with tuna or sardines, spread a little outside the cage to chum the waters, that will draw in a coon or skunk, if thats the problem. I have the single opening Havahart trap, seems to work for me. And when you get one, shoot it with a .22 or give it a swimming lesson (with the cage on of course), don't dump the problem on someone else down the road.

Good luck and report back, we'd like to hear what it was!!

I'd also set a couple of gopher traps right in the holes. If its your dog or the neighbors dog, it won't hurt them that much, you just turn them loose but they learn a lesson. If its your neighbors dog, take some pictures.

[Ufatz]

Okay! Okay! If you think you gotta kill it at least do it with the bullet and don't just dump the trapped critter in the lake to drown. How would YOU like it!!

If ya gotta do it, at least do it quick.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

The problem with baiting a trap is you will draw something into it, but might not even be the critter you are after.