Any suggestions for how to secure marshmallows in a live trap, to make the coon work harder at it and step on the pan?

Put them under the cage, past the trigger. He'll work more, trying to get them up through.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking, just never did it. I've twist-tied a slice of sausage and put it on a hook of wire off the ceiling that works. Thought maybe there's a marshmallow holder I'm not aware of.

Hardware cloth on the back 1/3 of the cage

He's not reaching through the cage from the outside, rather gently tiptoes in there and picks them up on the far end.

Put a stepping stick through the trap. About right where his elevated front foot is in that photo. About two or three inches off the bottom of the trap. He will step over it onto the trigger. Also get the bait all the way to the back of the trap. G.

Make a small bait holder out of 1/4" hardware cloth. Suspend that bait "cup" just behind the pan with a short piece of wire.

Keeps ants off the bait a little longer too.

I like the stepping stick, good one, will use that for sure. Try to throw one or two marshmallows way towards the back.

Thanks.
I went with 3 under the floor and one hanging from the ceiling with a piece of aluminum wire for tonight, see if that works.

I've not had good luck with marshmallows as coon bait. Same thing always happens, I leave the house with a full bag of marshmallows and by the time I get to the first trap location most of the marshmallows are gone and I have a stomach ache. I have no idea what is going on with that. lol

Ha! Well, hanging it off the ceiling on a piece of aluminum wire stuck through it and twistied doesn't work, snatched that off in a second. He looked at the 3 under the floor from the outside, then left. Maybe once he digests the 4 he ate, he'll be back.

Do you make the small bait holder out of 1/4" hardware cloth just big enough for one marshmallow? Then shape a hook in a piece of steel wire to hang it from the ceiling?

You sure the pan and linkage is all working smoothly and not hanging up ??

That coon should have been caught....lol

Thanks, good point. Will check, but believe it's got a hair trigger.

Hang multiples up.

Personally I prefer powdered mini donuts. Two reasons, marshmallows turn into a big glob in the bag during the summer and the donuts when they try to take them off the wire will crumble making the animals work more.

Coated ones if rain looks likely. Strawberry ones are awesome.

I used the under the trap method for a while till some raccoons figured out that you can dig from the side of the trap to get to the bait.

Lastly...get a cage that doesnt run off a wire rod linkage. Most aggravating traps to deal with.

This is how I always set a box trap. I also put some cheery cool aid mix ba little water with the marshmallows sturdy it up. It give off a nice sweet smell that way. I use that around the house and barn to avoid the cats.

Another thing about those style traps I dont like is that the pan treadle sets up way to high. nothing is going to step on that intentionally. If you can figure out how to get it to lay flatter and still fire, you'll have better luck.

Maybe try cheese as a bait. Oh...wait.......

Get a whiffle ball and cut between a couple holes. Stuff some small marshmallows and wire it to the back of the trap. Then just trail a few into the trap.

I've always had better luck using the mini marshmallows in cages. They just pick them up with there mouth not using their paws at all. There reaching with there head not there paws. feet or neck hit the pan. A little trail leading into the cage.