Positive Set: Trapping Term Explained
If you wanted to catch a raccoon, squirrel, groundhog, or skunk that was using a specific hole where would you set the trap?
If you said, “Right at the entrance to the hole”, give yourself a pat on the back. You are on the right track.
Putting a trap on the travel path of a nuisance animal just makes sense. And, when you actually incorporate the trap into the travel path, you’ve just made a positive set.
Defining and demonstrating what a “positive set” is in nuisance animal trapping is the goal today. Understanding and executing the concept makes nuisance animal removal more efficient.
For starters, watch this short video where Ryan explains the term on a raccoon removal.
Works for Squirrels, Skunks & Groundhogs Too
Since you’ve seen how this set-up works for raccoons going through a ridge vent, you might be asking yourself if it works for other species. The answer to that is a definitive yes.
In fact, anywhere there is a defined path of travel the technique can be used.
We use it for multiple species that are going in and out of structures at specific points: squirrels, groundhogs, skunks, raccoons, etc.
To the right is an example of a positive set for squirrels.
The trap is placed over the exit/entrance the squirrels are using. When they come out, as long as all of the other ways are blocked off, the squirrels have to go into the trap. The only other choice is to stay inside, but that can only go on for so long. There is no luring or tempting them to come a certain way.
Here is the same idea in a positive set for a groundhog.
As you can see there is no bait in the trap and the trap isn’t in a random spot in the yard.
This trap is right in front of this groundhog hole and there is no way around it.
If a groundhog wants to come in or out of that hole it will go through the trap and trip the trigger.
To the right is a skunk caught in exactly the same fashion.
The blocking materials were placed in front of the hole, leaving the skunk just on option to get in or out of its den: walk through the trap.
What it Takes to Make A Positive Set
You’ve seen our examples, now it’s time to put the plan in action. Here’s what you need.
- A clearly defined path of travel. Exits and entrance holes are great. Finding them around foundations isn’t too bad. Locating them on the roof presents certain challenges.
- A trap that can be incorporated into the travel path. For this, we recommend double door traps for the bigger animals and repeater traps for squirrels. Most of our double door traps have spring loaded doors that fire when an animal brushes by wire in the middle of the trap. A very thorough trap description is in this blog post about positive sets for groundhogs.
- Blocking Material. In order to get the animal to go through the trap, it can’t have any other options. This blocking of other possible travel paths calls for creativity. The material can be anything. We use a lot of wire and purchase blocking aids that are sold by trap manufacturers.
When you put all these things together, you are certain to capture an animal that moves through that spot.
Animal Removal & Control | Stark, Summit, Portage County
Positive sets are an efficient way to trap in many instances. And we hope this post has steered you in a positive way, too.
If you can identify where the animal is going and put the right kind of trap in its path, you are well on your way to success.
But, should live in the Canton, Kent, Akron area and need assistance, you can always give us a call.
We’ve got the experience and traps to solve your nuisance animal removal issue.
For more check out our other pages and blog posts.
