I'm seeing some nice ermine around here this past winter. They go streaking through the place like a shot , nice black tipped tails. Now they are brown, of course.

I have two rat traps that I know will get them. I've used traps like that, to catch pack rats.

I am thinking of doing some ermine trapping for next season.

But I have a dilemma. I don't want to place those big rat traps on the ground. In case I snag something I don't want to.

I've always seen ermine on the ground, and watched them hop up onto low beams or stumps. I would like to set up off the ground.

Do ermine climb as easily as marten or squirrels ? If I set up on a wood beam or angled trunk , like a marten trap ?

I would like to catch some this next trapping season. I have always wanted a nice ermine pelt.

Jack's great knives would be too big, I'm afraid....so I'll need something smaller . Sorry Jack...but one of your knives is perfect for making whiskers and fine hairs through the wax pencil layers for my art images So they are always displayed on my desk in pride, and I use them in my art projects. The many ways they can be used ....who knew ??

Many thanks to the folks here who can give me advice on these fast and furious running "socks"....that's what they remind me of in winter, a sock streaming along the snow . I have no idea what type I have here. Their tails are a nice length , though.

In summary, do ermine climb like a squirrel , and how do you like to set up for them ?

Someone will have a picture of a box set up for ermine I'm sure. That would be the safest set up for you.
They certainly will climb. Almost all the ones I have caught have been in pole sets for marten

That helps , thank you ! Since Ive only seen them on the ground, I wasn't sure.

I think it will be exciting to set for them.

Remember where you saw them. Location location location.

AI knows what an ermine is....which is surprising.

I described what your artwork shows above and it generated some pics....these were the best two of about 10 pics.

I know nothing about catching them...no white weasels down here in the deep South.

They are a neat little critter....

You bet, 080808 . I know right where I've been seeing them, and plan accordingly. Thank you. I have noticed that the ones I've seen on my place seem to have a set circuit as they travel. Ill make the new cafe convenient for them.

SW, cute AI. It does well in some things and deficient in others, depending on the picture and its references that it is programmed to go by.

In the case of the ermine, the fur flow and shading to contour is stiff , unlike hand done, by a good artist. In the second pic, it forgot the black tip tail. And the slight stain of behavioral activity. The face is nice. The backdrop, or landscaping, is well done.

AI goes by the photos it can reference , and can be fun to generate .

I have caught them like White17. Pole sets for marten. I used a box with a barkers mink pan on a 120. Never tried a rat trap on a pole but with foot traps and bait for marten birds were a problem.

I have caught some weasels in marten boxes, but if I'm going specifically for weasels I would just use a box. I don't know if I ever got a non-target animal in a box and a hole 1 1/2"-2"really won't a lot in other than a mouse or rat .

I used long spring traps on them I’d make a cubby out of old bark toss bait in the back they seem to find it no problem. Rabbit scraps made good bail liver might be another good bait.

I had the same concern about other critters taking off with the rat traps made drags out of mink snare cable and a larger treble hook. I used the hold down staple for the cable end on the trap.

Ermine climb trees very easily.Catch them in Fisher and marten sets all the time in trees leaning and straight up and down.

Use 1x6 to build a box about a foot long. Put a two inch hole in the front centered three inches down from the top. Top to overhang about four inches. A snap type rat trap will just fit in the bottom of it. Use a large pan or add a large plastic pan to the metal trigger.

I like using Dave D'Aigles anise paste bait in the back.

Thank you for all this good info. I do like the idea of a box with the small hole . That will make me feel better about not allowing most other animals to get into it. That box idea even makes it much more comfortable for me to place it closer to ground level too. The routes along the ground where I’ve seen them patrolling perimeter . So I can do both up higher and close to ground.

Gives me some good planning time .

In the archives they have a lot of good information on ermine trapping and also on building the weasel boxes with the victor rat traps.

I set a trap for a weasel that was hitting on an old coon cubby bait years back made no effort to hide the trap I had to take a triple take when a bobcat was standing in that set.

This is what I was trying to describe.

This what I use also and many others. Find scrap wood and build them just a bit bigger than the trap is wide. Plus make them appr. 4 inches longer than the trap just room enough for the bait.

In my north country they tend to be in any decent sized brush pile. I use those same rat traps Sharon. The nearest tree to the brush pile, maybe 4” diameter or better nail the trap to the tree. Bait prod down of course loaded arm up.
Maybe 16” up.
Been a while but I just remembered if the trap face is slick I take a knife and cross score that wood. Mentally to me think it helps them grab and climb on it. I could be wrong.
Bait with a small piece of fresh bloody meat.

Osky

Yep on the boxes for ground sets. Around cabins and the house we leave the ermine alone. They kill a lot of small rodents, earning their keep in my book.