Muskrats

[jack1747]

Any suggestions how to get rid of them.  They must have bloomed with the full moon.  Me and my neighbors are being plagued with them burrowing into the creek bank.  I been shooting them but there are more than I originally thought.  I have a Harvard live trap but don't know what to use for bait...    We have 2 resident Bald Eagles that I think might have been keeping the muskrats in check.  Maybe since the Eagles started feeding from my fish cleaning station they are to well fed to hunt...  Guess I will stop feeding them.

[crabtacular]

My brother was in pest control for awhile in the past.

He used to tell me how his day went (not that that is important )  but he used to say that whenever he went to a job and was trying to catch racoons / muskrats that he would use apples as an easy alternative. He said that those "kinds of animals" were more sight oriented and it was important that it looked appealing to them, rather than the "peanut butter" glue traps that would attract regular rodents / mice and only had to smell a certain way.

Hope that helps......I guess I'd cut up a 1/2 apple and give it a shot.....save the other 1/2 for lunch

[tattoo]

Do you sell the pelts. ??

[jack1747]

going to foodlion for apples thanks

And no to the pelts just want them critters to leave my creek bank standing. 

[crabtacular]

going to foodlion for apples thanks

And no to the pelts just want them critters to leave my creek bank standing. 

I ran into my bro again this morning.....asked him again.

He said it should work......he did indeed say make sure to cut them up into wedges

Don't know if it is so it is more appealing or he is superstitious. 

[tattoo]

good luck hope you get rid of those critters. 

[elkcrabber1]

i have about 2 dozen muskrat traps you have to wait till low tide and look for their holes in the bank put a trap in it. when the rat trys to swim in or out the trap shuts and kills him then the next day you come back on low tide and harvest your crop its not that hard . when i was younger i used to go with my grandfather and he would catch them and sell the furs for extra cash

[jack1747]

Thanks for the advice elkcrabber1.. But me n me 10/22 Ruger took care of the problem... for now... 

PS: Welcome aboard..

[Syoung]

Since they are considered furbarrers I would get a damage permit. It can be very big fines for shooting them with a weapon. Most states traps only during the fur trapping season.