You may have wondered how to trap a muskrat inside your pond. There are several methods you can use. These methods include the use of Leghold traps, Stovepipe traps, Conibear traps, and Pond netting. If you find that you can’t capture the muskrat on your own, you can hire a professional trapper.
Stovepipe Traps
In a farm pond, rice field, or marsh, a stovepipe trap is an effective way to catch a muskrat. They work quickly and effectively, and they are relatively inexpensive. Muskrats can be an irritant, and traps set in their trails can prevent the muskrat from escaping. You can also use culvert, polo, or under-ice sets.
A muskrat’s burrows are often exposed during winter and extended drought periods. If the muskrat is in a pond with a rocky surface, you can place a wire across the bottom of the pond, extending three feet below the surface. Although these traps can discourage burrowing, they’re also prone to being washed out and may hurt livestock.
Muskrats use logs that rise from the water to use as toilets. They leave behind brownish bean-shaped droppings. Use a wooden tomato stake four to five feet long. If muskrats can enter your trap, stakes made of wood are sufficient. However, it’s important to keep in mind that raccoons and minks may attempt to blunder into your traps. Therefore, use stakes made of thicker materials to prevent raccoons or mink from entering your traps.
In some cases, people may try to trap a muskrat on their own without commercially registered trapping licenses. In such cases, it is essential to obtain a depredation permit before attempting to trap a muskrat. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources maintains a list of nuisance wildlife control operators that can help property owners resolve nuisance furbearer issues.
Leghold Traps
Leghold traps for muskrat in ponds are a simple and effective way to capture this nuisance wildlife. They can be set underwater, so the trapper must wear waders. You will also need two feet of 14-gauge wire and rubber gauntlets. Ensure that you stake down the trap to prevent muskrats from escaping. The catch circle is the area that is bounded by the trap edge when fully extended, and the chain when moved in a 360-degree circle around the anchoring point.
There are two types of leghold traps for muskrats: the body-gripping and underwater versions. The underwater version is usually more selective and requires less water, as the muskrat is likely to dive in when alarmed. Alternatively, you can use artificial feeding stations by placing a baited Conibear or foothold trap in a shallow body of water. Bait the trap with carrots or apple slices, or a stick anchored in the ground. Baiting is also an effective way to capture a muskrat in a pond.
Leghold traps for muskrat in ponds are also useful in capturing colonies of a muskrat. You can set foothold traps in reedbeds, and use the body grip traps in channels. Make sure to check with the wildlife commission of North Carolina for regulations and trapping procedures. It’s not illegal to trap muskrats, but make sure to follow the regulations!
The best traps for muskrats are placed near their “runs” or trails. The trails are easily visible in clear water and can be felt underwater. If you can identify alternate den entrances, it’s best to place a trap as close as possible to the entrance. In addition to leghold traps, you can also use culvert sets and pole traps.
Conibear Traps
One way to effectively trap muskrats is to set foothold or Conibear traps in their runways. Muskrats use runways to enter the water. They swim through thick aquatic vegetation or muddy stream bottoms. These traps allow you to capture a muskrat in its den and pelt. The pelts are available for sale during the trapping season.
The most effective way to trap a muskrat in your pond is to use Conibear(r) type 110 leghold traps. These traps are most effective when set in about six inches (15 cm) of water. When set properly, the trap will kill a muskrat instantly. Set the trap near the opening of the muskrat’s den.
Muskrats can be spotted near a water source by walking along the bank. Use hip boots to help you locate their den. Look for the den entrance. The area will be dry, firm, and devoid of vegetation. Place the trap near the den entrance and stake it down to keep it upright. These traps will quickly and easily catch a muskrat in a pond.
In addition to the foothold traps, you can also use cable traps that will hold the animal in place while the trap is set. These types of traps are often called “killer” traps. The cable device must be completely submerged to be effective. Colony traps are killer-type traps. Other types of traps, like wooden-based traps, can be set on land. For example, a wooden-based trap can be used for catching weasels and red squirrels. To use a wooden-based trap, the trap should be recessed in a box with a hole no more than two inches in diameter.
The muskrat should be lured by bait. The bait can be muskrat castor, carrot, or even a potato. A single Conibear trap with a one-way trap door will be effective for multiple muskrats overnight. In addition, the trap should be set six to eight inches outside the den entrance hole. A muskrat will usually fall into the trap within a few minutes after the bait is lured.
Pond Netting
If you’re having trouble catching a muskrat in your pond, you can use weed-proof netting. This type of netting can be placed around the perimeter of the pond. Leave a few feet of space between the netting and the water’s surface. This method is easy but can be tricky to install. Remember, muskrats usually dive into the water when they spot people approaching. They may also panic if they see a netting covering their burrow.
If you have a small pond, trimming back aquatic plants may be enough to eliminate the muskrat problem. However, if you have a large pond, removing all the plants may disturb the ecosystem. In addition to removing aquatic plants, you can also install fencing or netting to prevent muskrats from entering your pond. Depending on the size of your pond, you may need to hire a professional nuisance wildlife control operator or a pest control company to help.
Muskrats are known to be tricky to catch. To lure them out of their den, you can try using natural baits like muskrat musk or sweet-smelling oils. Alternatively, you can try carrots or apples. If you’re able to spot a muskrat, you can use a Conibear trap. If you don’t want to use the Conibear trap, you can use leg-hold traps. Make sure to stake the legs on the bottom of the pond. If the muskrat escapes from the trap, you can also use catch poles to release it.
Remember that trapping muskrats is illegal in many territories and states, so it’s important to check local regulations. If you are unable to locate a muskrat, you must relocate it to a wetlands environment at least five miles away. Besides relocating the animal, you can use a pond liner to make the habitat unlivable for other animals.
Pond Clean Out
Muskrats are semi-aquatic mammals that can wreak havoc on your pond and its aquatic life. These creatures thrive on vegetation such as cattails, water lilies, and pond weeds. While they may not be a health risk to your fish, they can destroy your pond by chewing on the wiring. A muskrat will also destroy your pond’s bank by burrowing in the water, causing leaks and clogging the drain tiles.
If you notice muskrats in your pond, you can get rid of the problem with simple netting. This netting can be made of vinyl-coated welded wire and will prevent muskrats from entering. You should also make sure your pond has a rock layer that extends at least three feet beneath the water’s surface. If you suspect that muskrat is nesting in your pond, remove the vegetation.
Muskrats are active during the winter. If you find them in the winter, the ice coverage in the pond will help trappers to get close to their den. If you can’t see the muskrat’s den, use the ice to walk around the perimeter of the pond. The ice will also help you place a lethal trap in its burrow.
If you don’t feel confident about your abilities to catch a muskrat, there are professional muskrat removal companies that can handle the job. You should contact a nuisance wildlife removal company if you are unable to remove the animal yourself. Once the muskrat has been trapped, it will need to be relocated to a wooded area with water.
