A relative is looking to get rid of some problem animals in a pond. I haven't had a chance to assess the pond or damage, but considering the location I assume its muskrats. I don't have any traps sized for muskrats. From google maps it looks to be about a 1 acre pond, its aerated, the area around it is mostly farm field. I know its not much to go by, but hoping to get some advice on where to start. I'm sure I'm getting ahead of myself but am curious if I should be looking at conibears or footholds? Pole sets? Floats? Thanks

If there are bank dens and you can see them use 110's. Look for feed piles around the edge, use 1 1/2's on them and drown them. Many different ways but would hard to say for sure without seeing it. Good luck!

if using 1.5's I assume a pole setup with bait?

That will work too but just setting them on feed beds will also and no bait required.

I have found that pond rats are readily caught with colony traps. Find the holes, set the trap in front. Collect all the rats.

My vote Is for the colony trap If the den holes are visible.

This ^^^^

And a culvert opening filled with colony traps will really get you some numbers. If It's legal.

Funnel trap or basket trap with a Larry Reeve wing for culverts or in channels below beaver dams,or in the shallow entrance(thats the one the muskrats use) of a beaverhouse,live or dead.

6X6X30 with wings on one end will catch you all the rats you want. Or make some 7X7s so you can nest them. No need for those over sized funnel or basket traps.
My experience with colony traps In culverts Is the rats for the most part hug the bottom. So a 6X6X 30 with 6" wings on each side of one end will close off that 18" culvert. Nice thing about the wings Is you can fold them back If you are using them In rat dens. Or open them up when trapping those wide runs.Those wings also make that colony trap a great bottom edge trap.

Can you post up apic or two of said "6x6x30 with wings" Thanks

I like the big funnel traps better than those little square ones.In the right locations Like I indicated.The big traps keep catching and you dont have to check them every day,they wont become inoperable after a few rats.

A few rats? I have had as many as 12 rats In one colony trap. Well It was a 8X8X36. Actually we had 4 traps In a culvert and the next check we had 22 rats.

I can haul 100 colony traps of my size In the back of my F150 and you would need a truck and a very large trailer to haul that may funnel traps. LOL And Of coarse you will have a storage problem. And the expense would offset any rats you might have caught.

Sorry I don't do pictures.But all you have to do Is cut two 6X6 wire squares. Then zip tie them to the leading edges of your colony trap.

Here's a pic of a 6 x 6 x 30 with 6 x 6 wings that is probably close to what Beav is articulating, I use cage clips but zip ties would work fine.
Collapsed for Transport:

Standard Set w/ wings tucked back:

Winged Set:


( Buzz Kill) Make sure you review regulations:

Thanks for the help Eagleye.
Those winged traps are illegal In WI I only used them In ND. Hopefully that will change here In WI

Nobody hauls around a bunch of funnel traps,lol.Maybe move a couple every few years or add a couple in new spots every few years.They stay out on your line at the hotspots and are installed every year while you are out trapping all the other fur.
Great way to manage rats on the line when trapping more valuable fur.Once develop your line you can have quite a few out at all the hotspots,and like other species your traps will be there when you harvest that location every couple or 3 years.

A few cans of black rustoleum keeps them in good shape for years when hung up out on the line-same as minnow traps.