Risks and Procedures for Live-Animal Traps

Introduction

A live-animal trap is a device designed to capture and contain an animal without harming it, allowing for its safe relocation or controlled dispatch after capture. Animals are lured into the device with bait and then trapped inside by a spring-loaded closing mechanism. All such traps must be checked daily.

Regulations

The use of live-animal traps, particularly for mammals larger than mice or rats, may be restricted by federal or local laws and regulations. Check the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website for information about federal regulations. Local trapping laws can be found at individual US State wildlife departments. Cage and box traps should only be used by wildlife/pest management professionals to ensure that traps and pests are handled safely and in accordance with local regulations.

Trap Types

There are several types of live animal traps available, including:

Multi-catch Rodent traps (such as “Tin Cat,” “Steel Cat” or others): low-profile metal box traps designed to catch and hold multiples.
Cage traps: wire cage construction. Cage traps range in size from small to very large. The live trap should be large enough for the entire mammal to fit inside, including the tail. Small cage traps are used for mammals like chipmunks, rats and squirrels. Larger cage traps are used for mammals like raccoons, skunks, or possums, among others. Cage traps are available in single or double-door styles. The single-door style ensures the bait is protected and forces the animal to enter completely into the trap. The double door allows entry from both sides and gives a clear view through the trap for the mammal to enter. Due to the wire construction, baits for these traps are most effective when the operator attaches them to a solid surface with some sticky substance.
Box traps: solid-walled construction that provides more protection for the animal, the handler, and the bait. The Sherman trap is a box style trap made of eight hinged pieces of sheet metal that can be collapsed for easy storage and transport. Sherman traps are often used for capturing mammals in the field for biological research. The box trap can be baited with grains or seeds, having solid bases.

Single-door style cage trap

Double-door style cage trap

Sherman box-style trap

Regulations

Many people consider these traps inhumane, and the legality of use varies by location, for example, in 2022 the UK passed an Act which makes the use of certain uses of glue traps an illegal offense.

JHA: Live Animal Traps

What can go wrong?

What are the consequences?

How could it happen?

How to mitigate the hazard?

Trap handler comes into direct contact with the trapped animal, its feces, or the trap mechanism

Improper handling of the pest or the trap results in injury or disease exposure (bites, scratches, inhalation of contaminated dust, etc.)

Inexperience with trap use

Lack of knowledge about trapped pest

Mishandling of trap

Poorly-vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO)

Multitasking or rushing while placing/retrieving traps

Be aware of your surroundings to mitigate personal injury

Wear thick safety gloves while handling traps to prevent contact with pests, feces, or triggering allergies

Live trapping of vertebrates other than mice/rats should only be conducted by a carefully vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO)

Trap handler finds themselves in possession of a protected animal with no legal means to transport or dispose of it

Trap handler may face legal repercussions

Lack of knowledge about relevant animal regulations

Poorly-vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO) with lack of understanding of applicable individual US State and federal regulations

Live trapping of larger vertebrates should only be conducted by a carefully vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO) with knowledge of applicable individual US state and federal regulations

What can go wrong?

What are the consequences?

How could it happen?

How to mitigate the hazard?

Unmonitored or unserviced traps can contain dead animals that will attract more pests

Neglected traps cause secondary infestation of collections

Insufficient resources to support monitoring program

Disorganization, lack of clearly defined or consistent monitoring procedures

Devote sufficient resources to support regular trap monitoring/servicing

Place traps far enough from from collection items to discourage easy secondary infestations

Use trap mapping or use networked traps when possible

Provoked animal escapes from live trap in collection area

Damage to collections from unrestrained perturbed animal

Mishandling of trap with captures

Service traps in a controlled setting/manner

Live trapping of vertebrates other than mice/rats should only be conducted by a carefully vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO)

What can go wrong?	What are the consequences?	How could it happen?	How to mitigate the hazard?
Routine trap maintenance not supported; traps are forgotten	Neglected traps can cause secondary infestations; dead catches will attract insect populations and will smell.	Insufficient resources to support monitoring program Deploying more traps than your resources can support Disorganization, lack of clearly defined or consistent monitoring procedures	Devote sufficient resources to support regular trap monitoring/servicing Don’t deploy more traps than your monitoring program can support Use trap mapping or use networked traps when possible
Traps or bait are not the correct type for the vertebrate being monitored	Trapping is ineffective or causes undue suffering to the animal Inadvertent capture of non-targeted species	Inexperience with trap use Lack of knowledge about trapped pest	Pick trap type to suit the pest, collection requirements, and trap location. Visit: https://museumpests.net/monitoring-trapping/monitoring-rodent-trap-selection/ Live trapping of vertebrates other than mice/rats should only be conducted by a carefully vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO)
The trap is not oriented or engaged properly	Trapping is ineffective or causes undue suffering to the animal	Inexperience with trap use Lack of knowledge about trapped pest	Proper training and attention to manufacturer’s instruction for proper setting of mice/rat traps Live trapping of vertebrates other than mice/rats should only be conducted by a carefully vetted pest management professional (PMP) or pest control operator (PCO)