Rabbit trap tips

[JackAndy]

Not sure if allowed here but thought I'd try anyway...

Background: Rabbits are eating everything on my property and doing a lot of damage. I'm trying to trap them to get rid of them.

I have this Havahart small 1 door live trap 7"x7"x17". It says its for rabbits and squirrels. When I set this thing up, I rarely catch rabbits. I mainly catch squirrels but when I do get a rabbit, its only the little tiny ones. To be honest the trap does look a little small because the door doesn't open all the way. So the opening is probably only 4-5" tall. I think a bigger rabbit could squeeze in there, but it doesn't seem like they want to.

I even tried putting burlap over it so it looks like a tunnel and the animals can see straight through front to back. I tried putting it where I know the rabbits go. I tried putting it next to the bushes the rabbits eat.

I've tried various types of bait with every type of vegetable, lettuce, apples, apple juice, peanut butter, nuts, you name it.

So now I'm going to buy the bigger 10"x10"x32" trap and I'm just wondering, what bait do I use or what do you have success with? Ideally this would be bait that ONLY rabbits go for. So far, 9 times out of 10 I get a squirrel.

I won't be using snares or things that injure or kill the rabbits because the neighbors have cats. I'll never hear the end of it if I hurt a cat. Even as is, I'll never heard the end of it if a rabbit starts making noises and attracting attention. Even the "whisper quiet" pellet guns are very loud so I'm kind of limited to these live traps. Yes I have steel rabbit fences up but they're even eating my boxwood shrubs. It already looks like a maximum security rabbit prison at my house so I don't want to keep putting up rabbit fences. Ideas?

 

[scubadoober]

Are you allergic to dogs? How do you like terriers?

 

[wkndwarrior29]

#1 Watch where they come from, clean out the nest. Much easier done with the above suggested terrier.

#2 Poison, don't advertise it and the neighbors won't know what happened if their cat gets into it.

 

[knobby]

Just a thought but a good bait would be whatever plants that the rabbits are decimating on your property.
As far as finding a good place to set the trap look for the little piles of rabbit droppings, near them would be a good place to start.
FWIW poisoning the rabbits would be very tough but seeing that they are herbivores accidentally poisoning fluffy is very unlikely.

One afterthought thoroughly wash the new trap before use to make it more scent neutral.

 

[Git]

I sympathize with you. It has been quite a battle, but I think I have finally won

I think you do need the bigger trap. I have this one and it has served me well over the years

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000ES6P2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I did have one wiley wabbit that when he tripped the center floor plate - he could actually run straight out the trap before the doors closed all the way and locked (had him on video). But I finally got him

We just used fruit as bait - apples, etc

 

[kd3pc]

rabbits can make a ton of noise before they succomb....screech like the zombie dead. And remember they reproduce like, well - rabbits. If you see 8, there are another set of 8 and another behind or before that set.

trap, poison or lead...

make your property attractive to hawks and fox...they work on them young and old alike.

 

[rayh]

If you're a wood worker then go to Pinterest and type in ''wood box traps for rabbits''. Lots of ideas. 60 + years ago I used a rectangle box with sliding door, had a forked pivot stick that a wood limb rode on and a stick in the rear of the box that tripped everything. Use apple smeared on the front of the box and on floor of entrance. Then threw the apple to the rear of the box. There's drawings of this box on pinterest that are close to my Dad's design. Caution--''sometimes a skunk can be caught'' but you'll smell him before sliding open the door.

 

[kctyphoon]

Please define - “get rid of them”

Maybe its just me - this is a tool forum, not a “please help me kill animals better forum”. I’m sure ill get remarks for saying it, but IJDGAF..

 

[davethorik]

Subsonic .22lr ammo of choice, .22lr rifle/pistol of choice.
Still too noisy? Bow of some sort.
Good attack cat/dog.

 

[M_George]

Subsonic .22lr ammo of choice, .22lr rifle/pistol of choice.
Still too noisy? Bow of some sort.
Good attack cat/dog.

Besides... their good on the grill...

 

[JackAndy]

Are you allergic to dogs? How do you like terriers?

Not allergic to dogs and I love terriers!

#1 Watch where they come from, clean out the nest. Much easier done with the above suggested terrier.

#2 Poison, don't advertise it and the neighbors won't know what happened if their cat gets into it.

Thanks!

I sympathize with you. It has been quite a battle, but I think I have finally won

So what you're saying is you tried a 1 door trap and it didn't work well until you got the 2 door trap?

make your property attractive to hawks and fox...they work on them young and old alike.

I'll look into that. There's some coyotes less than a mile from here in a farmer's field. They just never seem to make their way into this neighborhood for whatever reason.

If you're a wood worker then go to Pinterest and type in ''wood box traps for rabbits''. Lots of ideas. 60 + years ago I used a rectangle box with sliding door, had a forked pivot stick that a wood limb rode on and a stick in the rear of the box that tripped everything. Use apple smeared on the front of the box and on floor of entrance. Then threw the apple to the rear of the box. There's drawings of this box on pinterest that are close to my Dad's design. Caution--''sometimes a skunk can be caught'' but you'll smell him before sliding open the door.

Thank you.

Everybody who is concerned, the rabbits are taking an all expense paid vacation to Disney Land!

 

[5ktq]

When you've been wondering what your lousy couchsnake is good for...

 

[Git]

So what you're saying is you tried a 1 door trap and it didn't work well until you got the 2 door trap?

No, I never had the one door trap - I bought the 2 door trap that I linked to and it got the job done. I probably caught over a dozen rabbits with it and at this point we have been rabbit free for about a year. Those little f*ckers really did a job on our plants and grass!

 

[CR888]

Block up ALL the holes except 1 or 2 of the main ones.....grab the BBQ gas bottle, some hose & feed the hose down the main hole surround with packed dirt. Turn on gas and leave it on slowly for a good bit. Most of the warren tunnels are interconnected so you will clear out a good bunch of them without trapping, shooting etc. Works good, no mess or clean up.

 

[Git]

Caught one this afternoon:

 

[tarmy]

I use a bigger havahart trap for raccoons and rabbits...cat food works excellent.

If you get a skunk...shoot it...I have been lucky and only caught intended targets. Got our cat once...he wised up after that...

 

[HenryAZ]

The wife uses a Havahart, but not the small squirrel size. She baits it with carrots, celery, and apple slices. She catches many, but it seems there are always 5 more to replace the one caught.

 

[Richard Cranium]

most dogs love to chase rabbits, house sit your friends dogs for a week or so.

 

[M6erfan]

Lead poisoning