We had so much rain here this season I’ve gone to using Peat Moss instead of the native dirt. For you guys that run Peat Moss do you still use a pan cover or under all or just put Peat Moss under the pan and inside your jars? Reason I’m asking is because I’ve had two dirt holes picked clean in the last few days and I blocked and guided heavily and I think the animal may have stepped on the pans and didn’t trigger the MB450s bc I didn’t use a pan cover & the Peat under the pan may have gotten wet and not allowed it to trip.

When I've used peat moss I used a pan cover. At first I didn't use a cover and I had the same thing happen with trap not firing. Once I started using a pan cover I didn't have any problems.

Peat is all I use for bedding, I never use a pan cover. All my land traps are night-latched so the pan only needs to move a small fraction for the trap to fire. For me, pan covers are unnecessary.

With all the freeze thaw coupled with all the rain we have had the last couple years I have taken to using wax paper on mine. Problem I was having was the peat would get wet then freeze under the pan. Some traps would be completely frozen and some there would be just the frozen peat under the pan. The wax paper may not be needed but it makes me feel a little better.