Cage-trapping Safely & Responsibly
This page contains resources on strategies to cage trap safely and responsibly to prevent injury to humans, animals, and wildlife.
Dangers of Cage (a.k.a. live traps) Trapping
Definitions--many people mistakenly call a cage or box trap a "live trap". The ICWDM.org does not use this terminology because the term "live trap" is misleading and vague. It is vague and misleading because people assume that if a trap doesn't look like a box then it must be a "kill trap." Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, most trap are "live traps" including, footholds, Collarum traps, snares, Belisle footsnare, Egg Trap, Duffer trap and a wide variety of other limb restraint traps.
There are two types of rectangular "box" traps.
Box traps come in two main varieties
Solid wall, called a "Box Trap"
Wire-wall, called a "Cage Trap"
Dangers of Cage Trapping
1. Getting scratched or bitten--as animal reaches through the cage.
2. Getting sprayed--when you are unprepared for the possibility of catching a skunk (to learn how to prepare for and/or handle trapped skunks see Skunk Handling)
3. Contracting infection--cages have sharp edges which breach the skin and expose it to the urine and fecally contaminated wire.
4. Parasite expsoure--fleas, ticks, lice, worms, and other organisms can "jump" from the animal to the trapper.
Strategies for Reducing Risks when Cage Trapping
1. Wear Personal Protection
- Sturdy leather gloves
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Long pants
- Shoes that fully cover the feet. (No flip flops)
- Insect repellent (containing Deet)
2. Select the right trap. (Like automobiles, some traps offer more safety features than others)
- Box traps, with their solid walls, significantly reduce the risk of getting scratched or bitten. However, they will hold urine and feces on the floor of the trap.
- Cage traps with tight mesh walls, 1/2-inch by 1-inch weave, signficantly reduces an animal's ability to reach through the wire when compared to a 1-inch by 1-inch weave. However, traps with the the smaller mesh size are more expensive due to the increased amount of material.
- Traps with large handle guards (over 4 inches wide by 6-inches long).
- Traps with large handles (over three inches tall) that allow for greater distance between the trap and one's hand.
- Gravity door traps (those traps that open automatically when rolled over) should have their doors wired shut prior to your moving the trapped animal.
3. Proper Behavior
- Always cover at 50% of the trap with a cloth (box traps don't need to be covered). See image.
- Understand how to use your equipment BEFORE you begin trapping.
- Check traps every single day they are set!!! This means, weekends, holidays, etc.
- Always follow all government regulations for handling wildlife. Consult your government laws at Wildlife Laws.
- Have a plan for how you will handle your catch (BEFORE) you begin trapping!!!
- Make sure your tetnus vaccination is up to date.
- If you become ill within 6 weeks of your trapping efforts, tell your doctor that you were working with wildlife!!!
- Don't be afraid to hire a professional. See Hiring a Professional to learn how to find a real one.
4. Additional Training
