When using baited conibear boxes for squirrels do you find that the open designs or restricted access boxes work better?

When I say open, I mean that the end of the box has no cover, but the back of the box may be closed OR cut out with hardware cloth covering the back so that they can see through. By restricted I meant that there is a cover on the end with say a 3" hole.

Do you prefer using the standard trigger wire setup, or bending them down/pan that is stepped on?


Finally, do you prefer to use a conibear box or something else, like a running pole set, when trapping grey/fox squirrels in oak and pine trees?

I'm going to guess that most answers will be that most guys are using tube traps for lethal control. I've done wire cubies as positive sets using 155's, 110's, and 55's with the 55's working the best. I try and set the triggers up where the wire closet to the jaw side is straight down or pointed slightly in and the other wire is bent up so it runs horizontal with the top jaw. This gives a nice looking opening and I've not had the refusals from any species with this like I've had with other configurations. I've also used the Koro Rodent trap successfully by mounting a "walkway" below the opening and then setting the Koro so the squirrel has to step on the pan in order to enter or leave the structure.

If I was going to make squirrel boxes for baited sets, I'd build them around the Koro with both ends open and the Koro in the middle. This would act like I put the Koro in a gutter but would then hide the squirrel once caught.

From what Serge has told me, in Canada they use 110's on limbs and such to take Reds quite a bit. I'm sure the Canadian guys can chime in on that but I don't see why this wouldn't work with Gray's or Fox squirrels as well.

While I was reading Eric's post above I got to wandering why we don't use anything but the same old cages for squirrels. We will use

Conibears for cage shy raccoons but we never use anything but cages for grey, red, and flying squirrels. ( We have caught a grand

total of one fox squirrel in 26 years ) The answer is pretty simple. If we can't box squirrels into a cage, we set a 2-door cage and

that nearly always catches them. But I think the main reason is that we use the same squirrel cages for baby skunks, thirteen-lined

ground squirrels. chipmunks, wood rats, Norway rats, voles, and even the smaller birds. We always have some on the truck.

I use the open front, hardware cloth rear type of box built for 120s.

I set the trigger on top and bend the wires outward so the outside jaw hits right behind the head. The slots must be deep enough that the springs will not hit the back of the slot and jump forward.

I use coni boxes when my tube traps are all in use.

I use cages as a third option. Coni boxes as a second option and tube traps whenever I can.

Thanks for the replies. I have plenty of bodygrips, which is why I'm wanting to build a box for it, I'm thinking a BMI 115 would work well. I already have the cedar fence boards...

Do tot ever use a running pole set, or is that more of a fur trapping set, due to ADC wanting to keep catches out of sight?

I thought you might like to see some of my squirrel set ups, we mainly use 110s and Fenn mk4s, but if trapping in Red squirrel areas we use cage traps as reds are our native species and have been nearly wiped out by the greys.






i cant seem to find my pictures of cage trapping set ups, but when i do i will put some up.

Brian

Brian, did I read that right? The greys are wiping out the reds? I guess I need to send you some of our reds. Our reds may be smaller

than the greys but they're twice as aggressive. They moved in about 30 years ago and decided they liked it here. Everyone hates the

reds and loves the greys around here. Personally I'm neutral. They both pay the same.

Here's one of my home made boxes.


If you look closely you can see that the 110 on the right has been thrown. There is a squirrel in it.

Two traps with a bait box in the center as you can see in this photo with the side of the box open.



The blocks hold the traps in place whether they are set or open. The slots in the side allow room for the springs with the trap open or set. This way, I can prebait the box, set it in place and allow the squirrels to feed for a few days, getting use to freely moving through the trap. Then when they are use to it and no longer shy of feeding there, I go back, set the traps and catch the squirrels.



Here's a close up view showing the feeding trough and the stabilizing block with the trap in place.



I have variations of this box with the front cut at an angle to fit neatly against boxing under overhangs on a roof line. This box only has a single trap and no bait. It is used at the point of entry, set so that they must go through it to get back in.



I've tried cage traps with all sorts of different baits and tube traps but my own designs work the best.

Do you catch the problem animals and then close the entrance, or is closing it off on the homeowner?

Looks like fun, but not legal in GA.

Looks like fun, but not legal in GA.

That sure looks like a wonderful squirrel catcher. The only problem would be keeping a hundred of them working and of course, that

would be my job. I think I'll stick with the cages.

Paul you did read it right, Reds here are a protected species, they used to be all over this country,now they only exist in very few areas, pushed out by the greys through competition for food and habitat, the greys carry a pox that does not affect them but is lethal to the Reds.
I do a lot of grey control for the Red squirrel groups a lot of which is funded through govt money, it is illegal to release greys after they have been caught and also for a vet to treat one,they must destroy them,
Through extensive trapping and shooting the Reds are starting to make a good comeback in some areas,and now a lot more big landowners are coming on board and letting us trap and shoot greys because we have proved that it works.

Brian

I had to check out some pictures of English red squirrels. They look a lot like ours except they comb the hair on their ears like

rock stars. If you need any help, let me know. I can catch grey squirrels where there aren't any.

Are you able to keep the grey squirrels to eat? Mmmm squirrel meat!

5 years ago i took on a 3 yr contract to kill grey squirrels on a nature reserve, i had to take blood samples of them and send them in to a laboratory, and then send the body's to a university for testing. now i keep most of them for Ferret food, i have eaten them but not very often,
have you any decent recipes?

Brian

Brian, are they your ferrets?

Yes Paul i have 6, i use them for bolting Rabbits from their setts,

We started with one and ended with four. Coolest pets ever. If only they didn't stink to high heaven. No longer own them but they

were sure a lot of fun. I can't imagine what they would be like for hunting.

Coney catcher,

The tender ones are great fried. The rest are great in a good gravy or a gumbo. The meat is one of my favorites. I'll give up a gumbo recipe, if interested