Being Safe with Cage Traps

Lots of homeowners use cage traps and box traps (mistakenly called live traps) to capture nuisance wildlife. While cage trapping is not difficult, most non-professionals neglect to protect themselves from potential injury and disease transmission that can occur during the trap's use. When instructing the public about wildlife control, I am always amazed at the reaction I get when I tell them about the need for proper safety equipment. I usually describe the scene as follows, "All of you certainly wear gloves when handling cage traps right?" Of course, I know that they haven't. I then say, "After all, where does the trapped animal go to the bathroom?" Once they recognize how foolish it is to handle cage traps without gloves, I am pretty confident that they don't make that mistake again.

So let's briefly mention what safety precautions should be taken when cage trapping. First, wear good quality leather gloves. Never handle a cage trap without them. Cage traps have sharp edges that can easily scratch you. Remember, dirt can contain the bacteria that causes tetanus (a.k.a. lockjaw). Scratch yourself with the dirty cage can expose you to this disease. Don't be too confident about your vaccination. If you are like most people, you can't remember the last time you had a booster. The standard (always check with your doctor though) is a booster every 10 years, and sooner if you have a particularly bad exposure (i.e. dirty nail puncture).

Second, protect yourself from being scratched or bitten. Just because the animal is in the cage, doesn't mean that the squirrel or raccoon can't bite or scratch you. Some traps are safer in this regard than others. For example, a trap with 1x1/2 inch weave mesh provides greater protection than one with a 1x1 inch weave. This is not to say the 1x1 inch weave makes the trap bad, it is just something to consider when purchasing and using it. Check the handle and handle guard. Does the handle provide enough room for your hand to keep it away from the cage? Is the handle guard wide enough (5x6 inches is good) to protect your hand from the claws of the caged animal.

There are other issues to consider, but these give you a start. To learn more visit
Being Safe with Cage Traps

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP