Not sure if we have talked about this.

Those of you who use wire cage traps, what do you find works best for trap covers?

Kurt Temple

We use corrugated plastic covers over the cage traps...easy to make, cut 3 equal size pieces to cover the trap...put 5 holes in each piece about 5"or 6" apart(TOP PIECE YOU PUT HOLES ON BOTH SIDES)and then zip tie all 3 together...spray paint them camo color. They fold up for easy storage and are light weight.

Kurt,

When we started I bought a bunch of 18x5x5 safeguard with the rear door for squirrels. Bought the
trap covers at the same time (see link). They seem to work well enough though I've now sold off
all my squirrel traps so I'm not sure what to do with the covers....

http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/WCS5321.html

Contractors bags. Cheap, easy, and come in a convenient roll. After a use they can be recycled in the effort to clean the truck up.

My discount place in the fabric section I bought about 20ft of this coated vinyl material like what rainpants are made from. cut out covers from those and they work slick. Fold em up and put em in the trap when not using.

It is actually "black out" cuurtain material. Wonderful stuff!

Okay, someone has to ask: Why do you all you guys cover your cages?

Makes picking up a skunk fast and easy, keeps the animal hidden from the neighbors and pets. The animal is less stressed. Covered traps are also a nice change up for trap smart/shy animals. Last but not least gives raccoons something to play with:)

I do remember picking up a skunk ( before I had chloroform ) that was under one of those coverings. It wasn't fast and it definitely

wasn't easy. I got nailed in the legs pretty good. I was telling this story to a customer and he said, "I did the same thing, put him

in my trunk, and was congratulating myself, and then I hit a railroad track; which explains why you are here now." But it certainly

does give the raccoons something to play with!

RF Wildlife said it pretty well. The whole job goes easier.

A covered cage definitely keeps the animal calmer. Helps protect the animal from the weather.

I've never had a skunk spray in a covered cage unless the customer caused it.

Bait is less likely to get washed out by rain.

I paint my covers in a random, earth tone pattern so they are not so noticeable to prying eyes.

Okay, Steve's answers were right on the mark. We cover squirrel cages because nobody likes to crawl around on the roofs just to

rebait after a rain. And skunks really are less likely to go "poof" if the cage is covered. We don't, however, cover raccoon cages

and that's more or less what I questioned. We have a couple of large Plastic Catch cages if necessary, but rarely use them.

Paul, are you not the one who said put a cage out for anything and your 50% likely to catch a skunk? So it seems having all your cages covered is best. Especially for those of us who do not use your special elixir on skunks.

Kurt Temple

Correction, Paul doesn't use any elixir or snake oils on skunks, he does however, use them on himself. By the time he wakes up a tech has solved the problem and the whole thing went much smoother than if paul were ever involved.

Kurt, you are absolutely correct about covered cages if you can't use my magic elixir. I do like an open top on the raccoon cages and

I always set them with the idea that I may catch a skunk, which I managed to do several times this year.

I use the same cover / nose cone that also protects the bait when using double door traps in single door mode. Rather than have a separate nose cone and cover I have used the same tool for all three. Keeps skunks from spraying, easy to handle while it keeps the animal out of the weather.