by Russell Roper

Created on: August 28, 2011   Last Updated: October 09, 2011

Most people can identify the unmistakable “Clap” of the mouse trap removing an unwanted visitor from behind the stove or from underneath a kitchen cabinet. But, this is the extent of their experience with traps. The fact is; there are traps available to catch practically any animal you could want, or need, to remove.

The list of available animal traps include: steel foothold, Body-Grip traps, live traps, and snares. Each of these traps has its own particular use, and species they are intended for. It is important to use care when using any of the various traps since they can cause personal injury or injury to the animal if used incorrectly.

The steel foothold trap has a history dating back as early as the 1600s. Originally the trap was made by blacksmiths using their skills with a forge. Through the years the trap has became more advanced, yet the operation has changed little. Foot-hold traps come in various sizes with the most common ranging from 0 to 5. Each of these sizes has their own species in mind. Styles include single and double long-spring, coil spring, single and double under spring (jump traps), and padded-jaw traps. The use of these traps requires knowledge, skill, and care to be used correctly so they operate as intended. It is required to know the laws of your area since some of the larger traps may be limited to being submerged under water. The foot-hold trap, set and monitored correctly, holds the foot of the animal with minimal to no damage allowing for the release of non-target animals.

When talking about the Body-Grip type traps you will often hear them referred to as “Coni-Bear” traps. This is, however, somewhat incorrect since the “Coni-Bear” is actually a name developed by Victor Trap Company to identify the particular trap, but over the years the name has come to be used to identify any trap of this type. This type of trap is also identified numerically with numbers such as; 110, 120, 160, 220, 280, and 330. There are a few companies out there that use numbers like 55, 60, etc., but the dimensions of the traps are mostly the same.

Choosing these traps must be considered carefully due to the fact that they actually dispatch the animal, which is their intended function. A Body-Grip trap is a two part steel square, or round frame, which is pinned or riveted on both sides. They can one, or two, large heavy springs attached the width of the side. The springs require lots of strength and pressure in order

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