I have had no problems with short tails, but are victor rat traps adequate for long tailed weasels? I had 2 known misses on long tails last season due to the rat trap (had trail camera on a box). I know a #0 or #1 long spring may be ideal, but to avoid raccoon frustration and being able to us boxes that are already made to fit rat traps, I would prefer the rat traps…

Are guys missing a lot of long tails using rat traps in a box?

is it possible the larger weasel is jumping over the pan and setting the trap off with its body resulting in a no catch or poor catch I'm guessing your box has a hole more then 1/2 way up and the short tails hit the pan

Setting the rat trap back from the entrance helps. give at least 4-5 inches away from the hole.

Then use a small/short drywall screw through the wood frame to secure it inside.

Do any of you guys catch brown weasels in the winter?

If you are using the Cedar fence board type box a 1-1/2 long spring is a good option. Just set the loose jaw against the wall and center pan at entrance best you can.

I have actually witnessed male shortails defeat the Rat trap. It just doesn’t happen enough fir me to warrant using the 1-1/2 for my short tail population.

Prairie long tails here,,,

The rat traps are near useless, not too mention always plugged with mice

I've all but given up hope on using weasel boxes because the voles set off the trap and eat all the bait.

Shrews are terrible around me this year. Definitely making a mess out of the boxes.


This year I’m trying more rat traps. Always have been a 1 1/2 long spring guy for weasels

Thanks guys. Guess I will make some new boxes that fit some footers to try and handle those bigger ones.

Idk they seem to wack every red squirrel that tries to enter at least the new ones. How old were the rat traps.

if the trap has fired always look around many times the concussion is enough they are 20 feet away.
In England they place a strike plate behind the drop zone of the leaver, because of the invasive grey squirrel problem. Google some youtubes from there to see the set up.

If you have any kinda weaker spring rat traps you can always stick a chunk of mink stretcher under the springs to beef em up a bit! Quite a bit actually. Happy trapping! ScottW

Here because they rarely turn.

never had a miss that I know of

I've witnessed longtails push the rat trap open....