Best bait to attract / trap a possum ??

• Jan 28, 2015

• #1

roundball

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

Have a possum that gets up into my bird feeders at night.
( no predator guards as most are good sized tree trunks I've stood up for a more naturel look )
Can't shoot it at night, and most particularly horizontal when its up a few feet off the ground.
So I'm going to set out a Hav-A-Hart trap and take care of business afterwards.

Was wondering what bait would be best to attract a possum into the trap instead of it climbing a tree trunk feeder?

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #2

pinkfletch

Ten Pointer

Well, if he is coming to the the bird seed, why not try putting some in the trap?

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #3

Jack's PA

Twelve Pointer

Contributor

Whatever you do, don't put it in a plexiglass box and lower it on New Year's Eve.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #4

stormm4

Big Ole Nanny Doe

I see them in my corn a lot.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #5

appmtnhntr

Twelve Pointer

honey bun from gas station. Gets them every time.
I put mine in a small suet-cake holder that you get from lowes.
Stick the bun in the suet holder and run a piece of wire down into the ground from the top.

The critters cant get their paws through the wire and have to come inside the trap to get at it.

Works like a charm.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #6

sky hawk

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

Can of sardines, half opened and wired to the back of the cage.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #7

Eric Revo

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

sardines or salmon are great at attracting these critters, as well as other less desirable varmints that may or may not belong to your neighbors. Just pop open a can, pour a dash of the oil around the entrance of the trap, and wire or zip tie the can to the back of the trap. You'll have the varmint in the morning.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #8

farmboyhunter

Ten Pointer

Cat food in a can

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #9

jcannon

Twelve Pointer

sardines and apples have worked well for me, but you might get a cat with sardines

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #10

Moose

Administrator

Staff member

Contributor

Cheap can of cat food works for me

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #11

dc bigdaddy

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

Eric Revo said:

as well as other less desirable varmints that may or may not belong to your neighbors.

Click to expand...

got rid of that cat uh?

marshmallows worked for me, but I used a leg hold next to the chicken pen under a wire tunnel

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #12

Firefly

Old Mossy Horns

yep, a piece of apple like jcannon said works well. But actually they will eat most anything they usually love bread too.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #13

KTMan

Twelve Pointer

Contributor

Moose said:

Cheap can of cat food works for me

Click to expand...

Basically anything. But they like cat food.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #14

oldest school

Old Mossy Horns

they used to stink up my rabbit boxes that i had baited with apples.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #15

roundball

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

pinkfletch said:

Well, if he is coming to the the bird seed, why not try putting some in the trap?

Click to expand...

"...to attract a possum into the trap instead of it climbing a tree trunk feeder?..."

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #16

roundball

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

Thanks for all the replies...I'll try one of those and see what happens

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #17

mekanizm

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

sky hawk said:

Can of sardines, half opened and wired to the back of the cage.

Click to expand...

Best bait my Dad ever used. Just stabbed it with an ice pick several times and it would last forever. Lol.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #18

Briargoat

Ten Pointer

If he's coming to the area already, anything sweet or fishy smelling will work.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #19

CarolinaWildlife

Ten Pointer

I use sardines and I make a living trapping. Gets them every time.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #20

Banjo

Old Mossy Horns

Sardines work great. Cat food works. Dog Food works.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #21

dpoutdoor

Ten Pointer

canned cat food

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #22

mike4592

Four Pointer

sardines

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #23

tra_cline

Ten Pointer

Contributor

opossum love can cat food and can fish…..

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #24

DFisher

Eight Pointer

cat food or apples, cut into quarters.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #25

jcannon

Twelve Pointer

oldest school said:

they used to stink up my rabbit boxes that i had baited with apples.

Click to expand...

mine too. I'd hate walking to one of my boxes thinking I had a rabbit and have a opossum

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #26

Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns

I use possum Bait.....

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #27

QuietButDeadly

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

And most of what has been recommended in this thread will also attract the neighborhood skunk. Good luck!

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #28

Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns

QuietButDeadly said:

And most of what has been recommended in this thread will also attract the neighborhood skunk. Good luck!

Click to expand...

Said by a Master Baiter......

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #29

roundball

Old Mossy Horns

Contributor

Knock on wood, have never smelled skunk living here for 28 years.
And the possum comes up every night...I can tell first thing every morning that its been there and have only ever seen the one.
So I'm assuming / hoping this will just be a short lived event...no pun intended.
And if I get one, I'll know immediately on a daily basis if another one is coming.

Trap will be here tomorrow, picking up a couple cans of sardines when we get a few groceries tomorrow as well.
If everything works out, I should have the trap in place for tomorrow night...

Again, thanks for the replies about sardines, cat food, etc.

 

• Jan 28, 2015

• #30

Blackwater

Twelve Pointer

Pile of chicken guts. Just thought I'd throw in something different. I think Tractor Supply sells two sizes of traps for humane capture