Rabbit Trap
How to use the trap
SlMPLE. Just place the long end piece of moulding in burrow with the word "top" in the uppermost position (so that door closes by gravity). The long end piece is designed to fit most rabbit hole sizes.
This trapping system is designed to eradicate rabbits from a complete warren. Each burrow MUST have its own trap for this system to be successful.
The traps can be placed, one per hole, and any extra holes can then be blocked with newspaper to force the rabbits into the trapped entrances. Blocking the extra holes with newspaper is better than using earth or rocks, because the rabbits do not seem to like scratching at it, whereas they will readily burrow around a rock or through dirt filling.
This new trap is quite simple in operation. It consists of rolled, heavy-duty chicken wire tube, with a moulded plastic door on one end and an entrance 'funnel' and swing gate on the other. The funnel end is simply inserted into the rabbit hole and left in such a way that the word 'top' (moulded into the outer door end) is actually at the top. Any rabbits which run out of the burrow run past the swing door which closes behind them, leaving them trapped in the wire cylinder. Being slightly conical, the entry end of the trap plugs neatly in to the mouth of the 'average' rabbit burrow, although very large or small burrows might need some minor modifications to enable their use.
Even nearly vertical burrows may be netted with these traps, since the swing door is very light in weight and is readily pushed aside by the rabbit making his exit. The swing door is made as a grid, so light can be seen by the rabbit as it approaches the burrow exit. In very large burrows, the trap may be inserted right into the hole. It is important not to leave the trap protruding too far out in such holes, as rabbits will readily slither through an incredibly small gap to dodge past the trap entrance and escape.
When pushing the trap into a burrow mouth it is very important not to allow the earth inside the burrow, which is usually soft, loose and dry, to accumulate inside the netting to prevent the door from swinging inwards. Obviously, a little care is needed, just as it is with any such idea.
The efficiency of the trap is greatly improved if a familiarisation period is used. That is, leave both doors of the trap tied open for a few days. The rabbits become used to running through them, then when the doors are closed, a much higher success rate is achieved. Each trap will hold at least four rabbits.
Legal Requirement: all 'live capture' traps must be checked daily. |
