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Uses of Live Traps

Live traps catch animals without killing or otherwise hurting them. The cages come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, depending on which animal you are trying to catch. You can purchase live traps at hardware stores, big-box stores and other stores, although you might have to order larger ones. You can also ask a local branch of your state department of natural resources, animal control or similar agency whether it has a rental program.

Indoor Pests
- Spring-and-hammer traps don't always kill and some people consider them very inhumane.
  
  Common household pests such as mice, rats and birds are ideal candidates for live traps. For rats and mice, there are a few types of live traps available, including single-catch traps and multi-catch traps. For mice especially, the multi-catch trap is the most effective; mice tend to find their way back into a home if their family members are still there.
  
  For birds such as house sparrows, traps include funnel traps and automatic traps. Funnel traps entice birds to crawl through a narrow-ended funnel into a baited room. Although they are easier to get birds into than automatic traps, sparrows can escape more easily.
Outdoor Pests
- You might catch a pesky raccoon in a live trap.
  
  Outdoor pests, both large and small, are also ideal candidates for live traps, particularly animals that cause damage, such as moles, mice and rats. You can also trap larger pests such as coyotes, skunks, opossums, raccoons and feral cats and dogs. Most of these traps are wire box traps, designed with a door that shuts down immediately as soon as the animal goes through it.
Relocation and Species Studies
- Professionals sometimes trap larger animals for different reasons.
  
  Conservation officers and other professionals who study wildlife and animals use live traps to capture animals so they can check their health, administer rabies shots, place tracking collars on them, and other reasons.
  
  Sometimes professionals will use live traps to trap and move animals to safer environments. Examples include bears, coyotes or other potentially dangerous animals in human-filled environments.
Considerations
- Trapping a wild animal could be dangerous for you.
  
  It can be very dangerous to catch a live wild animal in a live trap, particularly with the chance of disease. These animals are not tame and will not hesitate to bite to defend themselves when cornered, scared and trapped in a metal box. If you capture a wild animal in a live trap, cover the trap with a blanket before picking it up. When releasing the animal, face the cage away from you, open the door, and let the animal come out on its own.
  
  It is illegal to catch certain species in some areas. If you're not sure or not comfortable, call your local animal care and control office, department of natural resources or similar organization.

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