The Foot Trap

... leg trap, etc.

The (what I call the) Foot Trap is designed so that when a predator sets its foot down on the trap plate, it releases the spring-loaded clamps, that close on the creature’s leg, above the foot. Modern traps are designed so that they `clamp’ real good, but don’t cut, or break the creature’s leg. Remarkably, the creature can be released, mostly unharmed by the trap, unless it struggled. Over the years it’s been the neighbors dogs that have struggled most, and harmed themselves most, before I got there, and set them free. One time one of my wife’s baby chickens got caught in one of my foot traps. Amazingly, upon release, it appeared unharmed, and went on to live a normal (chicken’s) life.

Photo: a couple foot traps, both `set’, but just sitting in yard, for the picture … not set and covered near bait. I attach the trap to a cable, the other end of which I attach to the largest tree nearby. I have, at times, accidentally sprung the trap on my fingers. It hurts, but is survivable.

To get started, I watched some YouTube videos, on how to set/use the trap. They were helpful. You can purchase various baits and scents/attractants, which I did. Now I just generally use things from the farm as baits … a chicken that died of unknown causes, `guts’ from something butchered, fish guts, whatever. When using a dead chicken, I spike it to the ground. The idea is that you want the predator to dig, paw, exert, etc., so much so as to depress the plate and spring the trap. I generally set the center of the trap 6 inches or less from the bait. I dig a shallow pit for the trap, so that the plate is somewhat level with the adjacent ground, and then lightly cover with soft dirt, leaves, and so on (but not so much as to interfere with the operation of the trap). While handling the trap itself, I generally wear (latex) gloves.

It’s up to you what and how to deal with captured creatures. I catch fox, bobcat, and coyote in my foot traps, and an occasional neighbor dog. A choke pole is helpful for neighbor dogs, … oh, and a friend to help. It’s a bit challenging to hold the dog at bay and pry open the trap. Generally the neighbor’s dog had an unpleasant-enough experience not to return.

As with all trapping, I do so according to applicable laws / regulations, which include trap size and the frequency of checking (here, it’s daily, for foot traps). If I must dispatch a creature, I do so humanely. Of course I expect the same of you.

It is amazing what creatures roam around at night. Here, in Alabama, the forests seem uninhabited by day … but by night, it’s a zoo!