on some of my live traps i put under bridges on backroads and put an ear of corn in the back. I put a aluminum name tag on the trap so people know it is mine along with my number. I have had none of them stole YET. I only have 4 cages but i cought somewhere aroud 20-30 coons in them.
I put an ear of old corn in there in the back of the trap, with a few dry dog kibbles just thrown back there. The ear is for eye appeal, it stands out in the dark. This coon was so hungry that he ate the ear, not just the corn off it, but the cob too!
It's common for them to reach outside the cage and try to throw dirt around, I guess they think they are digging out. It rained on him that night, so, it's possible to have a muddy coon in a cage.
As I mentioned above, I pre-baited a month before season started, throwing dog kibble, dry, in the back. I wired the cage door to stay open.
I tried many baits, wet cat food, tuna, sardines. All I got were cats on the tuna and sardines, and the coons ignored the tuna for days. I finally just had to throw the rotten tuna out.
But dog kibble, they can't resist it. Sometimes eggs will make a nice attractor, but beware that skunks and possums like eggs too. I've had coons visit and ignore eggs, but they have never ignored dog kibble.
