Trapping nuisance wildlife

Trapping is a viable option if you cannot resolve a conflict with an animal by other means, such as removing the attractant, installing a barrier, or applying a scare tactic. It should, however, be considered the last option, because trapping it presents many problems for both the animals and the trapper. Also, it rarely is a permanent solution if other animals are in the area, and food and/or shelter remain available to them.

An animal that is simply passing through the yard or living in a tree in the backyard should not be trapped. There is no guarantee that the next animal to move in won't be a problem. Living near animals is like having new neighbors—you never know what the situation will be until after the new family has already moved in.

Appropriate times to trap an animal in or around a home or property include emergency situations, the removal of a targeted problem animal, or when trapping is the only practical solution.

Trapping activity by an individual in a nuisance wildlife situation must comply, where applicable, with the requirements under WAC 220-417-030 and adhere to RCW 77.36.030 & 77.15.190.

Basic trap designs

Modern traps fall into two main categories: quick-kill type traps and live-holding traps. Kill-type traps are designed to quickly kill the captured animal, much like a common snap-trap used on house mice. Live-holding traps can be separated into cage traps, foothold traps, and snares.

The information on this page deals only with the use of cage traps used to capture mammals. These are the traps most often used by people dealing with human/wildlife conflicts in yards, gardens, and houses. They come in a variety of designs; their sizes range from those that capture mice to those that capture large dogs. To avoid injuring people or trapping pets and other non-targeted animals in urban or suburban settings, cage traps often are the only traps permitted for use in these areas.

Except mice and rat snap-traps, quick-kill traps and other live holding traps should be left to professionals and individuals who meet state requirements and are authorized to use these traps under permit.

Cage-trapping wildlife

Two questions to ask yourself before attempting to trap an animal are: (1) Can I do this legally (comply with state laws regarding trapping and transporting wildlife? and (2) Can I do this humanely? If the answer to either of these is no, consider hiring a professional who is better able to meet these ends.

When used properly, cage traps can offer non-lethal solutions to conflicts. However, despite the perception that live capture in cage traps is humane, animals often experience stress and physical damage during capture. Captured animals may also suffer from exposure to extreme weather and lack of water. Such injuries, trauma, and disorientation can lead to the death of an animal days after it has been released.

For these reasons, it is important that all precautions described throughout this handout are carefully followed.

Cage traps can be purchased from hardware stores, farm supply centers, and over the Internet (search for "Live Traps" and "Cage Traps"). Some rental business and wildlife damage control companies rent them. Before using a trap, be sure it is clean, to prevent the animal coming in contact with or spreading potentially dangerous organisms. A dirty trap should be washed, disinfected with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts of water and let it remain on for 20 minutes), and thoroughly rinsed. To protect yourself, always wear gloves when handling the trap.

When not to trap

Never trap an adult animal that is caring for dependent offspring. Look and listen for young—even outside the animal's known birthing season.

When an adult animal is trapped, look for enlarged teats that are relatively free of hair, which indicate it is a female nursing young. (By standing the trap up on end you can usually observe the underneath side of the animal.) In such a case, release the female on site so she can tend to her young.

Permanently separating the nursing female from her young would likely cause the offspring to starve to death. Orphaned wildlife must be cared for by licensed professionals. Do not attempt to care for the animals yourself. Not only could you further harm the animals, it is illegal for you to do so. Contact your WDFW Regional Office for a current list of wildlife rehabilitators.

Never trap an animal during poor weather with the intention of releasing it. Trapped animals expend energy that is normally used to cope with winter conditions and they may die soon after.

What to do with a trapped animal

Before trapping an animal, you need to know what you are going to do with it after the animal has been captured. There are a variety of options:

Option 1: Release the animal at the site of capture

With this option, an animal is trapped and released on site after its reentry into a structure is prevented by physical exclusion. (See Evicting Animals from Buildings for exclusion techniques.)

In such a case, the animal is evicted within its home range and because it is familiar with its surroundings, it can soon find suitable food and shelter. In the event young are present but were not noticed prior to trapping, allow the female back inside to tend to her dependent offspring.

A downside to this approach is the possibility that the animal may simply enter someone else's attic, chimney, or similar place. Then, if someone else has to trap the animal, they will be dealing with a trap-smart animal, making its capture difficult.

Option 2: Release the animal outside of its home range

The release of elk, bear, and other wildlife by professional wildlife managers to reintroduce or augment populations is a proven and valid technique for wildlife management. However, releases of this kind should not be confused with moving problem wildlife, which may be illegal. In the State of Washington, it is unlawful to possess or transport live wildlife or wild birds (except starlings and house sparrows by falconers) without a permit (WAC 220-450-030). This includes Eastern gray squirrels, Eastern cottontail rabbits, raccoons, and opossums. They are considered wildlife because they occur in Washington in a wild state—which includes neighborhood parks and backyards.

Many times, not enough consideration is given to the impact of the capture and release process on the animal, or to the animal's impact on the established wildlife populations at the release site. While wildlife released in a new location is an option often preferred by well-meaning people opposed to killing animals, it is not only prohibited without a permit, but also may be at the expense of the released animal or the animals at the release site.

Biologists do not recommend releasing wildlife outside their home range for the following reasons:

• Mortality rates increase when animals are subjected to stress and trauma associated with capture, handling, transport, and being released into an unfamiliar territory.
• Animals that are released may harm or be harmed by resident animals (e.g., by territorial disputes, disease transmission, gene-pool disruptions, etc.).
• The same (or a competing) species may already be overabundant in the area. Excess animals have to move or die.
• Habitat conditions in the new area might not be suited to the animal being released.
• Many animal species have strong homing instincts and, upon release, they begin traveling in the direction of their capture sites, resulting in exposure to roads and other hazards.
• Animals may cause problems for humans in the vicinity of the release site.

Option 3: Euthanize the animal

Euthanasia of trapped nuisance wildlife must be by humane means. When euthanasia of live-captured nuisance wildlife is necessary, the euthanasia must be done humanely, consistent with the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Under the guidelines, drowning, live burial, and freezing live animals are considered inhumane and unacceptable. Therefore, WDFW does not recommend, encourage, or condone drowning as a method of euthanasia of live-captured nuisance wildlife. If you need help with nuisance wildlife, call a WDFW-certified wildlife control operator.

The term euthanasia is derived from the Greek terms eu meaning good, and thanatos meaning death. A "good death" is one that occurs with minimal pain and distress. Whether to use euthanasia is a personal question and a matter of an individual's perspective and values. People's opinion on the topic often depends on the experience they have with an animal. Opinions also depend on what will be killed—people are often less upset if it's a mouse or a snake that is killed, and more upset if it is a raccoon or a beaver. The most widely accepted—but still disputed—guidelines for euthanasia practices follow the standards set by the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA), which include:

• An injection of sodium pentobarbital or other pharmaceutical.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO2) supplied to a chamber from a compressed gas cylinder (small and medium sized animals).
• A gunshot to the head (small and medium sized animals. Check your local firearm ordinances).
• Stunning, followed by decapitation (amphibians, reptiles, and birds only).
• Cervical dislocation by stretching the animal so the neck is hyper-extended to separate the first vertebrae from the skull (birds, rabbits, and small rodents only).

Unfortunately, the majority of the above agents of euthanasia require training and care to administer. In addition, most are not available to, or do not appeal to, the do-it-yourselfer.

Care should always be taken to guarantee that the animal is euthanized humanely. If it cannot, or you do not have the necessary training, an alternative would be to contact your local wildlife damage control company, veterinarian, or animal shelter. They may euthanize the animal for a fee. Live burial, freezing a live animal, and drowning are unacceptable methods of euthanasia and are considered inhumane according to the guidelines set by the American Veterinarian Medical Association. While shooting an animal may sound extreme, in many cases it is the best available method because of its quickness, and it may cause the least amount of stress and pain to the animal. If shooting is used, the operator and firearm must be capable of producing a quick death.

To calm down an active animal, the trap can be covered with a dark towel or other cover. Depending on the species and size of the animal, a .22 caliber rifle or revolver should be used in accordance with local laws and regulations. See Step 4 below for information on how to handle the dead animal.

Note: In order to properly check an animal for possible rabies, the animal must not be shot in the head; instead, aim for the lung area directly behind the front shoulder. Human psychological responses to euthanasia of animals need to be considered, with grief at the loss of life as the most common reaction. People who have to euthanize animals, especially under public pressure to save the animals rather than destroy them, can experience extreme distress and anxiety.

Cage-trapping wildlife: Step by step

If an animal needs to be trapped and you are uncomfortable or have no interest in doing the work yourself, contact a wildlife damage control company. In the wildlife damage control industry, private companies made up of one or more people offer a variety of services, including trapping. Experienced trappers know the behavior of each species and the methods required to trap them. They also recognize signs of diseases and nursing females.

Often their solution to a conflict will involve setting several cage traps to make sure the entire family of animals is caught—or as many as possible at one time. Multiple traps are not something most homeowners have on hand.

Note: Persons working at state wildlife offices do not provide trapping services, but they can provide names of individuals and companies that do. If you are somewhat knowledgeable about wildlife, have identified the species of animal to be trapped, and feel you can handle the situation in a humane and legal way, follow the steps below. cage traps, foothold traps, and snares.

Step 1: Develop a plan that includes options

Contact your local wildlife office and municipality for current information on trapping restrictions (types of traps to be used, requirements foreuthanasia, species of biological concern in the area) and any required authorization. Decide if the animal will be released on site, euthanized, or moved somewhere else by someone who has a permit to transport it. If it is to be released on site, be ready to make all necessary construction repairs to ensure that the animal will not reenter the structure after being released. If the animal is to be euthanized, decide who, and if necessary, how it will be done.

Step 2: Set the trap

Set the cage trap as near to the den as possible, in the animal's pathway, or in the area of damage. When locating the trap, consider the possibility of young children approaching the trapped animal, theft of the trap, or damage to the trap by vandals.If setting a trap on concrete or another hard surface, place the trap on plywood or some other protective surface to prevent the animal from damaging its paws when trying to dig its way out. To prevent raccoons and opossums from toppling the trap, make sure the protective material extends out from the trap at least 8 inches and locate the trap away from shrubs or other objects that they could grab.

A captured animal often defecates in a trap. If the trap is set outdoors, biological risk is minimal but still real. Refrain from setting a trap near a shallow well, garden, playpen, or where a dog is tethered. Traps set inside the living area of the house should be placed on top of at least ten sheets of newspaper. Place a tennis ball in the trap to give a large animal a way to release energy and frustration; a piece of wood will provide a small animal something to chew. Anchor the trap so it won't tip or misfire when the animal enters—an animal will not enter a tipsy trap, and misfires teach it not to try and enter again.

Anchor the trap with a cinder block or other heavy object placed on top. You can also pound rebar stakes into the ground at the corners, or wire or clamp the trap to a stable object. Set the trap and then trip it several times to be sure the cage is steady and functioning properly. Trip the trap by using a pen or pencil, sticking an end through the side of the cage and pushing down on the treadle. If the doors do not work fast enough, place small stones or other weights on top of the door to make it drop faster. Use plenty of the suggested bait so it will be seen and its odor released into the air.

Step 3: Monitor the trap and animal

Be "on call" the entire time a trap is set. A trap set for a nocturnal animal should be set at or near dusk. The unset trap should be closed at dawn to avoid trapping a non-target animal during the day. Reverse this procedure when attempting to capture a diurnal (active during daylight) animal. Change the trap location or try different bait if it doesn't produce a catch within three days. When an animal is captured, move the trap to a quiet, protected spot and cover it with a tarp until time of release or euthanasia. A captured animal should not remain in the trap longer than necessary.

Note: In summer, a trap set where the sun can beat down on it can cause the animal to dehydrate rapidly, suffer a heat stroke, or die. If the captured animal appears injured or sick (i.e., having a discharge from eyes or nose, or a dull, sparse coat or scabby skin) and you don't want to euthanize it or have it euthanized, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

Step 4: Remove the animal from the trap

Release nocturnal animals at night and diurnal species during daylight. Point the opening of the trap toward escape cover, so the animal can see and move toward it. Stand at the opposite end of the trap, open the door, and tap the trap with your foot. If the animal is reluctant to leave, try placing the open trap on its side and moving away from the trap. When releasing an animal that offers the potential of a bite or a spray, attach a long string to the door of the trap prior to setting it, so the door can later be opened from a distance. Place the trap under the driver's-side door of a truck, or a window on a house, lean out the window, and hold the door open with the string until the animal exits. Note: Skunks and opossums often take their time when leaving a cage trap.

The carcasses of euthanized animals must be disposed of properly. To dispose of an animal on-site, the carcass must be covered by at least 2 feet of soil and located at least 200 feet from any groundwater well that is used to supply drinking water. Cover the burial hole with rocks or strong wire screening to help prevent animals digging into it. Sprinkling a layer of garden lime on the carcass will also help reduce the odor, which attracts digging animals. If it is not feasible to dispose of a carcass on-site, contact a local veterinarian or wildlife damage control company for assistance with disposal. Animal carcasses should never be handled with bare hands.

Step 5: Follow up

A trap that contained a sick animal should be washed, disinfected with a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water and left on the trap for 20 minutes), and thoroughly rinsed after each capture so as to stop the spread of any potential disease. Immediately complete all repair work necessary to prevent another conflict.

Cage-trapping specifications

Measurements represent minimum height, width, and length requirements.

Wildlife Species	Trap type, size (height, width, length)	Type of bait	Additional notes
Badger	Single-door type, 10 x 12 x 42 in.	Chicken and attractors such as feathers and eggshells, cotton balls, or marshmallows.	Due to the strength and aggressiveness of badgers, it is recommended that a professional trapper trap them. Contact your WDFW Regional Office for release sites.
Bat			Trapping bats is not recommended. Traps can be fatal to bats if left unattended, or if they become overcrowded. In addition, bats have excellent homing instincts, making moving bats unlikely to succeed.
Beaver	Hancock or Bailey suitcase-type trap	Freshly cut tree sprouts or branches, commercial scents and lures.	Due to the weight and dangers associated with suitcase traps, it is recommended that only people experienced with these traps use them. Some success has also come from using a 4 foot long cage trap set right at the water's edge next to the beaver slide.
Bobcat	Single-door type, 15 x 20 x 42 in.	Poultry or rabbit carcass and feathers for a sight attractor.	Set the trap in the vicinity of an animal kill or a travel way to and from cover. Use brush or grass on the top and sides of the trap to give the appearance of a natural "cubby" or a recess in a rock outcrop or in brush. Cover the cage bottom with soil.
Coyote	Single-door type, 20 x 26 x 48 in.	Sight attractors like chicken feathers, eggshells, cotton balls. An auditory lure that "squeals" can be effective. Wrap it in paper towels and a baggie to muffle the volume.	Cage traps are rarely effective at capturing healthy adult coyotes and most effective at capturing young or sick coyotes living in urban areas or entering a chicken coop or other holding area for pets, livestock, or birds. The trap should be thoroughly concealed with a tarp or other material, and extra precautions need to be taken to eliminate human scent from the area of the trap.
Chipmunk	Single- or double-door type, 5 x 5 x 16 in.	Unroasted peanuts, sunflower seeds, grain, popcorn, apple slices.	Place the trap where the chipmunk is active. Place a few sunflower seeds in front of the trap entrance.
Fox (red fox)	Single-door type, 15 x 15 x 48 in.	Tainted meat, eggs placed in a nest, marshmallows, cotton balls (they resemble eggs and have eye appeal).	Foxes are long-bodied animals, so the trap must be long. Take precautions to eliminate human scent from the trap and the area around the trap. Place bait in a hole dug under the rear of the trap. Cover all sides of the trap with a tarp or other material. Sift dirt onto the bottom of the cage to cover the wire bottom.
Ground squirrel	Single-door type, 5 x 5 x 15 in. to 7 x 7 x 24 in., longer if a double-door trap is used	Peanut butter, oats, barley, fresh fruit, vegetables, greens.	Set the trap near an active burrow with signs of recent diggings. Placing guide logs on either side of the path between the burrow opening and the trap will help funnel the animal into the trap. Cover the floor of the trap with soil and leave the bait highly visible. Cover the trap with a tarp to conceal the trap and provide an enticing nook for the animal to enter.
Marmot (yellow-bellied marmot)	Single-door type, 12 x 12 x 36 in., longer if a double-door trap is used	Peanut butter, oats, barley, fresh fruit, vegetables, greens.
Mice	Single or double-door type, 3 x 3 x 10 in.	Peanut butter, grain.
Mink	Single-door type, 7 x 7 x 17 in., longer if a double-door trap is used	Cheese or fresh bloody meat such as chicken or rabbit; use sight attractors like feathers or fur.	Wrap the cage trap in something dark; mink like to investigate dark holes. Set the trap in the animal's line of travel.
Mountain Beaver	Single-door type, 7 x 7 x 17 in.	Piece of apple, sweet potato, or whatever is being eaten in the area.	Set trap directly in the entrance of an active tunnel. Alternatively, place a plastic laundry basket over the hole and cut out an opening just large enough to insert the door of a trap into the basket cut-out. The mountain beaver will search for an opening to go through and enter the trap. Stake the basket down so it cannot be moved. Mountain beavers are very prone to hypothermia, so wrap the trap with black plastic or burlap and cover it with soil. Trap when the weather is mild and check the trap early in the morning.
Muskrat	Single-door type, 6 x 6 x 20 in.,longer for double-door traps	Corn, carrot greens, sweet apples, cattail roots.	Place the trap just outside the burrow and partially in the water, taking every precaution that the captured muskrat will not be under water and will be able to breathe. Conceal the cage trap well with grass or leaves. A short line of bait leading to the entrance of a trap will increase capture success.
Nutria	Single-door type, 9 x 9 x 45 in.	Cantaloupe rind, ripe bananas, sweet potatoes.	Place the trap along an active trail or where nutria are seen. A short line of bait leading to the entrance of the trap will increase capture success. A trap placed on a floating raft will effectively catch nutria, but pre-baiting is necessary.
Opossum	Single- or double-door type, 11 x 11 x 36 in.	Dry or canned pet food, sardines, old meat, chicken entrails, bacon, fish, apples.	Place the trap where the animal, or evidence of the animal has been seen, or at its den entrance.
Porcupine	Double-door type, 10 x 12 x 42 x in.	A salt-soaked cloth, sponge, or piece of wood, also water softener tablets, sweet potatoes, apples, roasted peanuts.	Place the trap in the vicinity of damage or at the den entrance. To lure the porcupine, blend a cup of raw sweet potatoes and an apple, and dribble the puréed mixture at the opening of a single-door live trap.
Rabbit and Hares	Single- or double-door type, 9 x 9 x 26 in. See notes	Fresh vegetables in summer; apples, carrots, or bread in winter.	Place the trap near cover where rabbits feed or rest, or where they gain entry under a fence. Place some bait just outside the trap and spray the inside with apple juice to increase effectiveness. To capture hares (jackrabbits) in open terrain, use a double-door trap with weighted doors to prevent escape. It is best to use a larger trap than used on rabbits
Raccoon	Single-door type, 10 x 12 x 42 in.	Fish-flavored cat food, corn, ripe bananas, bacon, sardines, peanut butter, jelly, marshmallows, (resemble eggs and have eye appeal).	Place the trap where the animal, or evidence of the animal has been seen, or at its den entrance.
Rats	Single- or double-door type, 5 x 5 x 18 in.	Peanut butter, grain.
River otter	Single-door type, 10 x 12 x 42 in. larger, longer if a double-door trap is used	Fresh fish.	Cover the bottom of the trap with sand. River otters may be trapped in suitcase type traps used to capture beavers. Modify the sides so the otters can't escape.
Skunk (spotted skunk)	Single-door type, 7 x 7 x 20 in.	Small marshmallows (resemble eggs), tainted meat, sardines, bacon, canned fish.	See Striped skunk.
Skunk (striped skunk)	Single-door type, 10 x 10 x 24 in.	Peanut butter, bananas, honey, or molasses spread on a piece of bread or dried fruit; also yogurt, cheese, raw egg (trail some through the trap and leave the rest in the back of the trap).	Place the trap along a travel route or immediately outside the den entrance, using the funnel method (Fig. 2). Alternatively, place a plastic laundry basket over the hole and cut out an opening just large enough to insert the door of a trap into the basket cut-out. The skunk will search for an opening to go through and go into the trap. Stake the basket down so it cannot be moved. Box traps designed specifically for trapping skunks are available, or a cover can be made out of a dark-colored blanket, plywood, or cardboard fastened with bungee cords. If a skunk is accidentally caught, use a long stick or other device to slowly cover the trap with a towel or blanket before moving it. Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that may frighten the skunk.
Squirrel (Eastern gray and fox squirrel)	Single- or double-door type, 6 x 6 x 24 in., longer for double-door traps	Peanut butter, nuts, corn, sunflower seed, popcorn, bread.	A squirrel may not find a trap set in the dark, or it may bump the trap, causing it to close prematurely. A trap set on the roof is safe from theft, children, and pets, and offers a better chance for catching the squirrel. If possible, find a window adjacent to a roof that the squirrel is using and you won't need a ladder.
Squirrel (Douglas and flying squirrel)	Single- or double-door type, 5 x 5 x 18 in.	Apples, sunflower seeds, roasted peanuts.	For Douglas squirrels, see above. For flying squirrels, set the trap inside a structure and near the animal's point of entry.
Weasel (long-tailed weasel)	Single- or double-door type, 5 x 5 x 24 in.	Fish, fresh chicken liver, chicken entrails.	Set the trap in an old brush pile, or under an outbuilding or fence, since the weasel is likely to investigate any small covered area.
Weasel (short-tailed weasel)	Single- or double-door type, 5 x 5 x 18 in.	Fish, fresh chicken liver, chicken entrails.	Set the trap in an old brush pile, or under an outbuilding or fence, since the weasel is likely to investigate any small covered area.