Colony Traps

[1yoteskinner]

Beav, we call the square to round adapter "transitions". Others may cal lthem something else.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Steve I use them primarily in wet culverts under roads.

I live in an area that would be considered a prairie pot hole region.

Lots of small holes with a road running through part of the pond with a culvert underneath.

Couple guys I know in ND took a couple thousand in the pot hole regions around devils lake using almost exclusively colony traps.

Yes they are mostly a marsh, pond, lake type trap.

They work good in defined runs leading to houses and bank dens too.

Two major drawbacks to the traps is the bigger size i use is bulky and cost.

They are gettign expensive to build.

[trappnman]

I've been trying to think where I could use them- this hill stream country is different.

I have some streams with well defined clay bottoms, way too deep for setting- I could lower one down I'd think somehow-

never messed with them, because they were illegal here in MN for so long- I think I'd like ot try a couple out- you willing to sell me a couple?

[thebeav2]

Well what would happen If you built them out of black stove pipe. And put damper type doors In them Or funnels with out doors. Or check out some job sites and pick up short sections of PVC or CPVC. I can see where storage would be a problem, but It might be worth It. They would last forever.

What about using 6" or 8" drain tile. Do you think a rat could chew out before expiring.

[thebeav2]

Steve just drive two stakes at the sides of the trail. Have a U bolt attached to both sides of the trap and lower It down on the stakes. Perfect alignment every time. Tie a chain to the trap hook It up above the water line

[thorsmightyhammer]

Steve I have limited quantity and my guess if i built them now they'd be in the 20 buck price range. Welded wire is getting expensive.

Gary I dont see them chewing out but the dia. could be a problem, but maybe not, I have the square type that collapse that are probably 6 inches wide no more than 8 inches.

I would think that most anything would work. Now you got me thinking about it next time on a job site i'll pick up some 12" sewer or water pipe scrap and try it out.

[mattduncan]

don't make things harder than they have to be lol from my experinace building round ones is more work than square and no more effective ,harder to store also i trap mostly drainage ditchs with mine run right on the side of the road set runway closest to the culvert and down the road biggest draw back is space in truck when setting and pulling square folding ones save a lot of space but i dont like the lack of ridgidness as this somtimes makes the doors catch on the sides another tip when cutting doors for square traps hard to cut tight to the wire and get a small tit of wire hanging out grind off with a bench grinder or belt sander

[thorsmightyhammer]

Biggest drawback on the square for me is that rats will at times get up on top the doors and jam em up.

[mattduncan]

build the doors half hinged and that problem is solved

[northof50]

The question was on how muskrats drown ? They have evolved so that when the CO 2 levels build up their brain tells them to shut down and they become quiensent, their heart rate settles and the blood travels through and after several minutes they wake up and swim again. This is how they can travel around in frozen ponds and just come up to a air bubble and suck it in, and keep going.
30 years ago Manitoba prov. did a lot of research into these traps, I've been hooked on them since.
A good source for wire is when they are replacing laying hen houses, the bottom wire rots from the urea but the top 30 inches is ok. Closing clips and style of pliers are the limiting speed rate.
The funnels have to be so the rat swims and scratches with it's feet to keep him occupied.
I bielive it is Gibb that uses a pharse;
"it's all a big sand box, and it is just another tool to play with". Sorry if I have miss quoate you Jim. These traps do have areas they can be used in, they are good in that they are big and thief of trap is usually not an issue, I have had rats stollen from them. My best catches of otters have been 330's set on the sides of them, they do like to predate rats in the water.

[northof50]

The black stove pipe and hinded doors are not as effective, you need a definate swimming run for these to work.

[coonboy]

Any pics of the funnel style trap?

[coalking]

T-man don't you have some farm ponds on your line? I don't have any marshs or many of the culvert crossings. I just use them at farm ponds in runs. I'm not an expert as we don't have many rats here. coalking

[trappnman]

not farm ponds like you think- ponds here, are almost always small runoff ponds- I haven't seen rats in them ever. Not fishing type farm ponds.

[coloradocat]

One thing we have used here to keep rats from plugging the door on square models, is to hang another door about half way in the trap. Granted, there is always one entry door still plugged. We just set it so it is opposite of where we think the rat is coming from. Downside, they can be a real pain to get the rats out.

[thebeav2]

Would It be beneficial to have a access door so the rats could be removed with less hassle.

[markymark]

The most underrated trap going. I have some that are 30" wide. I'll take anything that swims along. Beaver, otter, mink, muskrat...
When it's one of the few tools you have you learn to work it. I made a few that fit right in drainage pipes, one particular is on a golf course where 3 ponds are joined by 3ft pipes. Set them in 2 feet from the edge of the pipe works like a dream.

One the big ones that are 4-5 feet long I make them with a kill chamber in the middle. They have a door in the middle, I can reach down with a trick Phil Brown uses. A snake tong, reach down and never get wet.

Try a few this season you'll be surprised how well they can work. I don't know of any trapper that makes those 5 thousands rats with out them.

[trappnman]

I don't know of any trapper that makes those 5 thousands rats with out them.

I've known many that took 3-6000 rats a year- all without the colony trap.

but I am sure in the right places, they are very effective.

[northof50]

The funnel traps have a side access door mid-way on the trap, I' ve been using the inspection plate from hot water tanks it's the right curvature. When you put them into farm ponds you will find out how many bullheads are in the pond, don't worry they attract furry tailed muskrats.

[thebeav2]

Ya and they caught most of them in the hut.

I'm real excited about this type of system and can't wait to get them In use.