How To Set Conibear Trap

The Conibear trap is known for its effectiveness but without proper knowledge of how to set Conibear trap this powerful tool can pose serious risks.

You could inadvertently put yourself in harm’s way when using this trap. A Conibear trap, also known as a body trap, is commonly used to catch beavers, muskrats, minks, and raccoons.

It is a powerful tool that grips the entire body of the prey, ensuring a successful capture. Before we go into the details of setting a Conibear trap, let’s first understand what it is and how it works.

 

What is a Conibear Trap?

A Conibear trap has two big metal plates, a strong spring that closes the trap, and a trigger to set it off. Conibear traps come in three sizes: 110, 220, and 330, for different animals.

The 110 is 5 inches per side for small animals like muskrats and minks. The 220 is 7 inches per side for medium-sized animals like raccoons and opossums. The biggest one, the 330, is 10 inches per side for larger animals like otters and beavers.

 

How Does the Conibear Trap Work?

The Conibear trap is meant to be lethal to animals. When an animal enters the trap and triggers the trip mechanism, the powerful spring snaps the metal plates shut, crushing the animal.

This quick action is meant to cause as little suffering as possible to the animal. It’s important to note that the Conibear trap is not for catching animals alive. Only use it if you’re okay with the ethical choice of killing the animal you’re targeting.

 

Read also: How We Chose the Top 5 Best Rat Glue Traps

 

What Animals Does the Conibear Trap Work On?

The Conibear trap is very good at catching beavers, muskrats, minks, and raccoons. These animals can cause a lot of damage to farms and ranches, so many farmers and ranchers like using the Conibear trap.

For example, beavers build dams that can flood fields, while muskrats and minks can dig into riverbanks and harm crops. Raccoons can also be troublesome, damaging property and spreading diseases. The Conibear trap is a good way to deal with these animals efficiently.

 

How To Set Conibear Trap

Setting a Conibear trap requires careful consideration and adherence to certain guidelines to ensure safety and effectiveness. Here is a guide on how to set conibear trap:

• Pick The Right Trap Size: Select the trap size that matches the size of the animal you want to catch. Use the 110 trap for small animals, the 220 for medium-sized ones, and the 330 for larger ones.

• Where To Place Trap: Study the animal behavioral pattern to figure out where to put the trap. For beavers, it’s best to put the trap near a spot they often use to climb out of ponds, called a beaver slide. For raccoons, you can set the trap near beaver slides, on the open banks of rivers or lakes, or in places where you know they hunt.

• Find The Channels:  Beavers use underwater paths called channels as runs to move around in swampy areas. These channels are great spots to place a Conibear trap. Look for channels that are 12-16 inches wide.

• Using Setters: Setting a Conibear trap can be tough because you need a lot of strength to compress the springs. To make it easier and safer, trap companies offer setters, which are metal tools that help you compress the springs without hurting yourself. It’s a good idea to use a setter to make sure you set the trap safely and it works well.

• Adjusting Trap Sensitivity: You can change how sensitive the trap is by adjusting the locking mechanism’s notches, depending on how heavy the animal you’re targeting is. For lighter animals like muskrats and minks, you might need to set the trap to the high-sensitivity setting. But for heavier animals like beavers and otters, you’ll probably need the low-sensitivity setting.

• Safety Precautions: Be careful when you’re dealing with Conibear traps. Keep your fingers away from the trigger area to avoid getting hurt. The 110 trap can pinch your fingers, but the bigger 330 trap can cause serious injuries like crushing or breaking bones. Make sure to stay safe whenever you’re using these traps.

• Securing the Trap: After you set the trap, use sticks to hold it in place. This will stop it from falling over in muddy or underwater areas. Doing this makes sure the trap stays steady and works properly until an animal sets it off.

Read also: How To Trap Muskrats: Easy To Do Steps

 

Common Problems with Conibear Traps

While Conibear traps are effective tools for animal control, they also come with certain challenges and ethical considerations. you need to be aware of these issues before using a Conibear trap:

• Lethality: The Conibear trap is meant to kill the trapped animal quickly. If you’re uncomfortable with killing animals, you might want to consider using a different kind of trap.

• Catching Non-Target Species: You might accidentally trap animals you didn’t mean to catch. It’s really important to know what animals live near you and take steps to avoid catching the wrong ones. Learn about the animals in your area and how they behave to lower the chance of trapping them by accident.

• Legal Regulations: Before using Conibear traps, make sure to check the laws in your area. Some places might have rules about how you can use traps, including Conibear traps. It’s really important to follow these rules to make sure you’re doing everything legally.

 

Read also: 3 Best Bat Traps to Keep Your Home Pest-Free

 

More on How to Set Conibear Trap

This video explains how to set conibear trap:

 

Conclusion

Using a Conibear trap is a good way to handle animals like beavers, muskrats, minks, and raccoons that cause problems. If you know how to use the traps safely and correctly, you can manage these animals on your land.

But it’s important to consider the ethics and possible problems with using Conibear traps. Always make safety your top priority and follow the rules in your area for a successful trapping experience.

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