There's absolutely NO CONTROL over non-target "catches"... and this trap appears to be lethal.
I'm probably going to agree with that to a certain extent and, yes, it IS lethal.
If the land owner is having a problem with possums, what's to keep a coon from getting tapped with this thing? Or vice verso? Few people are gonna stand for a pile of dead coons when they are having a possum problem. Then we run into a legal dilemma. And heaven help us is the family cat gets conked with it.
Further, I won't set a killing trap for possum in the spring and early summer at all. Too great a chance of killing Momma with babies in her pouch, and that's REALLY bad for our image.
When we write depredation permits here, we have to be specific on what critter we're after. If we catch anything else we must release it.... Unharmed. Some species we can relocate if we have written permission from the receiving land owner.(this option is becoming popular around here with squirrels) Killing traps take away these options.
Granted, there are times when lethal traps in our business are required but not this one. I see too many problems with this thing and think that we, as professionals, would be wise to steer away from them.
Just a thought.