if i wanted to set a duke HD cage for coon in an attic how would i stablize it for no rollovers?

Just screw it to a floor joist or truss with a crew and washer

ah makes sense, thanks

First, I wouldn't set in the attic, but outside at the entry. But, if I did I'd put a sheet of plywood under the cage, or all of the insulation will be in the cage. Try to protect everything you can to save your customer the added expense. And make sure no wiring is within reach.

We do everything we can to not set in an attic… for anything other than mice and rats. Best case scenario is it only creates scheduling difficulties to check traps. It can get much worse.

Yeah I see where you guys are coming from. Thanks for the help guys

Use a double door comstock, set right outside entry point with a nose cone if needed

Sometimes pictures will help

I see, I’m going to get a 30 inch double door Comstock for ghogs and coons when I make a little more cash with my duke cage

I'd suggest one that has one flush mount door. It is very useful in the above pictured setups.

I would worry about the coon in the picture above causing roof damage. When I catch them on the ground, they are able to rip the ground up quite a bit even through the mesh. Is it safe set on the roof without some sort of underlayment? (Again, I have not yet had to set on a roof, so I cannot speak from experience...)

Trapper Dusty, I was thinking the same thing. I do think the Comstocks have a tighter mesh but never under estimate a raccoon.

wws

I would mount the trap to a piece of plywood or OSB and secure with screws and washers. Then once you get a catch you just unscrew the wood from the roof and remove the whole setup. Obviously fill screw holes with a waterproof roof sealant when done.

The comstocks mesh is too small for a coon to reach through. Any other trap they definitely can so maybe extend the plywood 6 inches wider on each side of the trap if using one with large mesh openings

That set isn’t touching the ground on the lower end. It’s off by whatever the ply thickness is. But I agree. We like to use ply under it. A couple blocks screwed in to the ply to support the cage while you cut or attach new zip ties to hold it will help you on a steep roof.

Be careful moving the raccoon in a cage off the roof. They understand inertia and sometimes will lunge in different directions when you’re trying to get them off the roof. They aren’t worth a lesson in gravity.

That is why I place a piece of plywood near the door opening. That is the only place he can get his hand through to grab or tear up anything. Like Limestone said, you could put an entire sheet of plywood under the cage just to be sure. I haven't had an issue to date.

As stated by Dusty, set your trap on the ground and avoid securing to the roof unless you have insurance to cover any damage. They start on the ground, so catch them there, there for no need for a ladder to climb every day,avoid all chances of a falling issue, with a coon on top of you.

Never set in an attic or on a roof. There are other ways to catch them and to save them from doing damage to the roof or other property.

Yes but trapping on the roof ensures you’re catching the “guilty” animal and not every one on the neighborhood. If you charge by the animal the customer appreciates knowing they’re only paying for the guilty ones

Would you also recommend trapping squirrels on the ground?

Exactly.

Years ago one of my competitors set on the ground for a chimney raccoon. He caught a lactating sow right where it was climbing the downspout. Went inside to retrieve the pups off of the smoke shelf, stuck his hand in and almost got bit by the sow that was the problem. Randomly catching everything in the area is not what your customers want to pay for.