Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Muskrats

I have a 1 acre pond in Wisconsin and have everything under control and then muskrats moved in. The fatheads love to live in the holes but I don't want the shoreline devastated. I am looking for any and all ways to eliminate them and keep them away. I welcome all informed ideas. I saw the article on den collapsing but it was a little vague. It also listed box traps but said nothing of bait.

Does anyone know of a good source for info as to their habits and and den construction.

Brian

The best way I have found is a #2 condabear trap just set it over the den and walk away they come out and theres no escape you might need to cover more than one hole because some times they have more than one way out. as far as preventing theyre return I use a special mesh screen for some of the ponds that I build.I install it before I aply the top soil. It is installed 2'below and 2'above water level.Then install top soil and plant grass seed.It works very well I mostly install it on the dams for my customers that want the added protection against all burrowing rodents.You can install it on top of already established grass or banks you just have to clear banks back cut grass down as close as you can lay the screen down an let the grass grow through it.Hope this helps get you started. doc

Brian, in Illinois I have gotten a permit to blast them with a shot gun. That works well. I don't know if Wisconsin will permit that.

Otherwise, an old northern wisconsin trapper told me to put out conibear traps baited with apples.

Conibear or snare in the mouth of the holes should help. A 110 Coni is big enough. Fruit or oil of anise are good lures for traps as well. If memory serves me, snares may not be legal in Wisconsin.

Thanks for all the helpful comments. The mesh may be an option but is a big project. I have set conibear traps but they tip them over. I never baited them because I didn't know what to use. Apples and other fruit may be a life saver. I know very little about muskrats. Shooting them with any kind of gun is fine with me with or without a permit but they never come out during the day. I would consider shooting them in the dens or even using 1/4 sticks to blast them out but I need to know how the dens are designed. I even thought of setting traps in the den doorway and then drilling into the den to flush them out in a panic into the conibear. I want to hit them hard once the ice goes so I catch them before the little ones are born.

Thanks for all the helpful comments. The mesh may be an option but is a big project. I have set conibear traps but they tip them over. I never baited them because I didn't know what to use. Apples and other fruit may be a life saver. I know very little about muskrats. Shooting them with any kind of gun is fine with me with or without a permit but they never come out during the day. I would consider shooting them in the dens or even using 1/4 sticks to blast them out but I need to know how the dens are designed. I even thought of setting traps in the den doorway and then drilling into the den to flush them out in a panic into the conibear. I want to hit them hard once the ice goes so I catch them before the little ones are born.

don't know about anyone else, but a couple beers later and i'm still laughing my hind off about the 1/4 stick idea. wow, what fun!! i think i know what i would have to try. maybe even buy a night vision camera first and let me see what it looks like! good luck with them.

Brian,

You're not doing something right if they are tipping the traps over. Are you setting them right? If you set them over the opening of their dens they should be virtually foolproof.

As far as coming out only at night, they will come out at dawn and dusk so quietly wait and be patient.

I agree with you cecil I have never had that happen to me by a Muskrat.They are pretty much caught if they get around one of those traps.But there has been stranger things happen.Maybe the type of trap that is being used is not what I consider a condabear trap.The one that I use is square with two wire style trips in the center. The ones I have are 6"x6" and 8"x8" If theres a different style I havent seen one. Doc

I agree with you cecil I have never had that happen to me by a Muskrat.They are pretty much caught if they get around one of those traps.But there has been stranger things happen.Maybe the type of trap that is being used is not what I consider a condabear trap.The one that I use is square with two wire style trips in the center. The ones I have are 6"x6" and 8"x8" If theres a different style I havent seen one. Doc

for muskrats use a 110 style conibear, 220 and 330 are too big. like mentioned when set right they will not fall over. good luck

I never baited them with anything and the rats dig under them and tip them without setting them off. I am using the same traps you describe. I will try setting a bunch as soon as the ice goes out and will try apples in them. I hope bass don't like apples. Any good websites of other info out there on proper setting of the traps and muskrat habits.

I never baited them with anything and the rats dig under them and tip them without setting them off. I am using the same traps you describe. I will try setting a bunch as soon as the ice goes out and will try apples in them. I hope bass don't like apples. Any good websites of other info out there on proper setting of the traps and muskrat habits.

Another good bait is an ear of corn.

I've got a question concerning muskrat traps. I'm a hunter but never have done any trapping. The guy's pond I'm taking care of has muskrat problems. Anyway, he went out and bought some of those foot traps that look like minature bear traps. The kind where there is a round metal pedestal in the center and when the muskrat steps on it the trap closes. I'm not exactly sure how I should be using these. I know it needs to be underwater in order to drown the muskrat and be attached to a pole with a chain to prevent him running off with it. My question is where in relation to the hole should I place it. Just in front of it seems logical but since it's underwater I would think the muskrat would ten to float over the trap and into the hole. Inside the hole I'd figure the small/low ceiling would prevent the trap from closing.

The connibear trap is made of a square that is close to the size of their hole to force them through it. Last fall we set 4 of the connibear traps and at least that many of the foot traps like you have. Only the connibear traps were successful. The foot traps catch them in shallow water and are staked to keep them from getting away. The connibear is underwater and is also staked although it tends to kill them instantly. My advice would be to spend a couple bucks and buy some connibear traps. The are $5-6 at the local store here. Good luck.

The connibear trap is made of a square that is close to the size of their hole to force them through it. Last fall we set 4 of the connibear traps and at least that many of the foot traps like you have. Only the connibear traps were successful. The foot traps catch them in shallow water and are staked to keep them from getting away. The connibear is underwater and is also staked although it tends to kill them instantly. My advice would be to spend a couple bucks and buy some connibear traps. The are $5-6 at the local store here. Good luck.

The type of trap you mentioned can be used but not as sucessful.You are more sucessful using these where you see the rats feeding look around the bank for signs of feeding,sides or gathering platforms where they sit and have lunch it is a little tricky but works .

The steel trap you describe is called a leg-hold. For Muscrats it should be set along the edge of the pond in apx 1" of water. Set it at a place where the rats are going in & out of the pond. Bed the trap firmly so it cannot tilt when pressure is applied anywhere on the trap. Whether it has one spring or 2 turn the spring/s 90 deg after set (away from the loose jaw) & when setting the trap turn it crossways to the direction of travle so the rat will step between the jaws & not over one. It should be staked in deeper water .. doesn't have to be more than 6" if caught by the front foot (prefered). The conibears listed in another post are easier to use & more than one can be set in a single run determining factor being the length of the run. When one rat is trapped others will simply push him aside & continue on to be caught also.
A better solution would be to ask the local Wildlife officer to hook you up with a local trapper. Let him bear the expense & trouble. I assure you he won't mind!