What does this????!

[catman529]

I set this 2nd rat trap before work and decided to check it just now before bed.

I say 2nd trap because the first one did the same thing, so I assume it had set itself off due to being old and worn out. So I bought 2 new traps today and the same thing happened.

The trigger there was coated in peanut butter and pecan pieces when I set it.

The critter(s) live in the insulation above a bedroom, same place I trapped 7 flying squirrels a couple years ago. They have the same sized tunnels bored through the insulation that the flying squirrels had. I'm just assuming its another brood of flying squirrels.

But what the heck sets off 2 traps in a row and eats the bait clean? These are full sized rat traps, but I have seen them catch mice before, and last time we had flying squirrels they were very effective. I place the trap in between two tunnel openings in the insulation.

Now I'm off to set the trap again. Hopefully something turns up dead in the morning.

 

[SilverFox]

Sasquatch... Micro model.

 

[catman529]

oh I should have guessed it's a new born cougar, just released by TWRA.

I just set 2 traps instead of 1. Each trap is next to a hole in the insulation and maybe one of them will score. I also took the wire from a twist tie and tied down the pecan half onto each trap, so the critter is gonna have to work to get it. I still don't know how the trap is being set off in the first place. Hopefully I will find some fur in the morning.

 

[EastTNHunter]

It looks like the trap is catching enough insulation to slow or deaden the blow, allowing the critter to avoid it or squeeze out when the trap is tripped. Of course, that is only a shot in the dark and I could be totally wrong.

 

[TRIGGER]

For crying out loud you name is CATMAN and you can't catch a mouse??? Lol this is how your supposed to kill them.

 

[EastTNHunter]

For crying out loud you name is CATMAN and you can't catch a mouse??? Lol this is how your supposed to kill them.

But CATMAN, you're only allowed 1 shot...

 

[TNCharlie]

I'll make a couple of guesses. Maybe your desired target is bumping the trap in passing, causing it to spring.

Or a small mouse maybe be climbimg onto the trap for the delicious morsel when WHAM! this big metal thing goes flying over its head. The mouse thinks, "Good thing I'm small or that would've smashed me."

Damifino.

 

[REM7]

looks like pink panther fur

 

[trealtree]

I cant see the pic, but super glue the pecan or peanut to the trip pan.

 

[Nimrod777]

Awww... flying squirrels are too rare and cute to kill!

 

[leader]

Glue trap, done!!!!

 

[plinker22]

We need some furry pictures posted!

 

[DaveB]

This is caused by the elusive pink panther which lives in the insulation. The best way to catch them is set the house on fire and place pink longjohns someplace where a 12 gauage can get them. TWRA will be quite upset if you stick a blow gun dart in them.

 

[Dbllunger]

Set up a trail cam on that trap!

 

[catman529]

I knew it wasn't a mouse....

This morning around 5am I was half awake from something crawling around behind my wall.... Didn't wake up enough to check on what I suspected....

Well one of the traps was licked clean and not even triggered. The other trap was.... Gone

I looked around and could not find it, only a drop of blood. and then I heard a noise from under a big air duct. There it was, caught by the leg... I wouldn't usually say "poor squirrel" when they are tearing the house up, but I hate one to suffer like that. Didn't take long to put him out....

There are probably more like it.... I'm gonna have to tune the triggers on those rat traps because apparently the critters can pull the pecan out from under the wire and eat all the PB off too.

 

[catman529]

Set up a trail cam on that trap!

I thought of that, but my trail cam is in the backyard waiting for deer to pass by and I don't know if I could get it to pick up or focus on a flying squirrel

 

[Dbllunger]

Looks like you better anchor them down as well.

 

[Hollar Hunter]

Cat get the black plastic victor traps with teeth. You just squeeze the back of the trap and it locks open. Has a little cylinder for the trigger you stuff with peanut butter and sun flower seeds mixed. It gets a dead clean head shot every time. I don't think i had a single one flipped with out it getting one every time. i think their 5$ each at lowes...You loose one of those in a trap its going to stink for a few weeks!

 

[catman529]

Cat get the black plastic victor traps with teeth. You just squeeze the back of the trap and it locks open. Has a little cylinder for the trigger you stuff with peanut butter and sun flower seeds mixed. It gets a dead clean head shot every time. I don't think i had a single one flipped with out it getting one every time. i think their 5$ each at lowes...You loose one of those in a trap its going to stink for a few weeks!

I saw those traps at lowes when I bought the new wood traps. I just got the cheap kind because I had good success with them in the past. I gotta at least anchor them down though since last night. Maybe ill have to get one of the black ones if I keep having trouble with these.

 

[Hollar Hunter]

Cat get the black plastic victor traps with teeth. You just squeeze the back of the trap and it locks open. Has a little cylinder for the trigger you stuff with peanut butter and sun flower seeds mixed. It gets a dead clean head shot every time. I don't think i had a single one flipped with out it getting one every time. i think their 5$ each at lowes...You loose one of those in a trap its going to stink for a few weeks!

I saw those traps at lowes when I bought the new wood traps. I just got the cheap kind because I had good success with them in the past. I gotta at least anchor them down though since last night. Maybe ill have to get one of the black ones if I keep having trouble with these.

I bought the ones you have first 6 I think. After resetting them every day for a week from misses I bought 2 of those victors. Every time them jaws shut there was a dead squirrel by the head...