Subject: Trapping small animals after PS
Sent: 30 Oct 88

If one has pets or ends up acclimating pets after the PS - how does one protect them from animal traps in the vicinity that are set to provide food for the table?  

One could lock our pets indoors or behind a fence we construct after PS and only set traps outside this fence.  If no fencing is possible, one could set "live traps" for close to home.  These are basically cages with a one way door.  If a pet anciently got caught it would sooner or later learn not to get caught or to recognize it as a trap.  Further distance away from home one could use a spring traps, wire snare or other kinds. 

Chagnon's Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Supply Route2, Box 2638B, Manistique, Mi. 49854 has a good catalog of many different types of traps and "live" cages.  Call 800-795-5157 to request a catalog or on-line at http://trap-supply.hypermart.net

We also need to think of ways of making live traps out of commonly available items.

One way would be to take a common dog or cat carrier as found in the pet or local grocery stores and modify it to be come a live trapping cage.  On some the door swings out now on others it swings both way depending on how it is opened.  This may need to be modified so that it swings only inward.  The cage could be used on its side so the door swings from the inside top.  It would also be desirable to rig a snap or latch so that as pressure is put on the inside of the door by the animal it will self latch.  The cage could be mounted such that the door tends to close due to gravity or mount a spring to assists it.  We would need to test a few configurations. 

Any additional ideas and sources are quite welcome.