Trapping during periods of Freezing and Thawing

One of the biggest concerns in any trapping is freeze ups that occur during periods of back and forth weather when temperatures straddle the freezing mark, often going above the freezing mark by day and falling below freezing by night.  If there no rain or snow, freeze ups will not be an issue, but cold fronts often bring rain, followed by cold accompanied by freeze ups.  If the traps are under cover moisture that causes a freeze up should not be a problem.  In a nutshell, if the temps vary between freezing and thawing during wet weather and the cage traps are not under cover the cage traps should be lubricated.

When temperatures remain on either side of 32 degrees, freeze ups are not an issue.  Cold weather in and of itself is not an issue.  Cage traps are surely no different from any other traps in their susceptibility to cold during changeable weather.   It only takes a very small drop of water to freeze parts together.  A single drop of water on a trip rod will act as strong as a weld, rendering any trap useless, cage traps included.

There are few parts that require lubrication on a Comstock Cage Trap.  During warm months Comstock Cage Traps do not require lubrication, but lubing them will make them smoother.  Again, if the traps are to be kept under cover, away from rain and snow during freezing and thawing they should perform well.  When lubrication is needed, packing the end bushings with vaseline or the like where the trip rod passes through the frame and adding a small dab of lube on the contact point of trip rod and swing bar should help a great deal.  A small shot of silicone on the door and lock bar hinge points could also help if the traps are to be left out in the weather.

If the cages are maintained with just a bit of lube or sheltered from rain during the cold weather they should perform well.