Trigger Configuration for Catching Large and Small Animals

(Small Animals)    Our wire trigger traps can be made to work with both large and small animals.  When trapping a smaller animal, baby animals, chucks, rabbits etc., it's important to cover the entire opening with the trigger wires so that a small animal can not pass through the trap without hitting the trigger wires.  Wires should be placed close together, while extending across the entire cage opening.  If only small animals are targeted, longer wires that reach almost to the far edge of the trap can be substituted quickly.

A second way to force small animal into the wires is by simply narrowing the opening at the trigger with a vertical rod placed through the cage, top to bottom, just past the end of the trigger wires.  If the trap is set sideways with the trigger at the top, keep the trigger wires equidistant apart, less than 2 inches.

(Large Animals)     If large animals are targetted, raccoon, armadillo, woodchuck etc., the idea is the allow the animal to travel more deeply into the trap before it fires so that a catch is certain.  With the animal's body more centered in the catch box, success is likely, especially when using shorter 24 inch traps.  Rather than allow an animal to push on trigger wires with his nose at center and fire the trap quickly, it is best to bend the trigger wires back away from the side of the trap, while leaving a gap of perhaps three or four inches.  In this way the animal actually makes contact with the trigger wires with his shoulder, rather than with his nose or head.

If the trap is placed sideways, merely spread the wires away from center and leave a gap, again perhaps three or four inches.