Gun, Poison, Trap? How should I do it in?

PineRidge · Apr 30, 2005

Yesterday while mowing the dam of the pond I noticed that we had a new visitor. I have not yet seen any activity so I really don't know for sure what made this hole but you can see how close it is to the waterline.

What are your thoughts, muskrat maybe? And how should I take care of it? I do have a few leg-hold traps. Might they work in the water close to the entrance hole?

Need to take care of my furry friend before he causes problems for the dam.

JJT · Apr 30, 2005

If you neighbors are close, you are stuck with the trap option. If they aren't close, wait for the little guy to show his face and shoot him.

You're also going to want to grout up that hole. Get a few bags of ready mix and go to town.

Dargo · Apr 30, 2005

I have an island in my lake and I constantly get the darn muskrats. I don't know where they come from. There isn't another lake within a mile of mine. Anyway, I had my trusty Remmington 700 in 7mm magnum out and waited hours for him to show. Never above water! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I couldn't ever get a shot. So, I broke out a couple of old conibear traps I used to use when I was in high school. They work well, and are pretty humane in that they kill immediately. The litter bugger won't suffer like in a leg hold trap. You probably can still buy the traps at most local sporting goods stores.

Here is a place that shows the traps I'm talking about. http://www.bugspray.com/professional/conniebear.html I assume that they are still the preferred trap for them. They work for me. I get about one or two a year with them. Good luck! I'm told that if you want to buy a night vision scope and wait all night, you'll have a better chance to pegging one. Not for me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Tevi · Apr 30, 2005

My favorite way to exterminate ground dwellers is to fill the hole with propane then light it.After a short ground rumble two things happen.1)there is no more movement or 2) they stumble out then shoot them.

PineRidge · Apr 30, 2005

Thanks Dargo there is a lot of useful information at that web site.

No sense worrying about a handgun as I have never seen the little critter. I'm thinking for the most part they must be nocturnal and I sleep at night so that won't work.

Besides it must have already seen our laser aimed 9mm Smith & Wesson so it knows better than to show it's head anyway.

With two dogs I think it's best to use a live trap with bait as suggested in the article. Once I catch it I'll leave it in the trap, tie a rope to the handle and see how long the muskrat can hold it's breath underwater.

Anyone know of an easy place to find a bag or two of bentonite to fill the den? Couldn't find any matches at Home Depot or Tractor Supply.

L3650 · Apr 30, 2005

Trap. Connibears do work well. You can do underwater sets or above ground.

HomeBrew2 · Apr 30, 2005

Daaang!, I know I live in my own world ... dargo was talkin about a decent long gun ... you're talkin about a [marginal-for-the-purpose] hand gun for the deed!!! I know this is a family site so, if you plug one of the varmints with that laser-guided 9m, please PM me for a download of the pic ... if there's anything to photo /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MarkV · May 1, 2005

Hey PineRidge, are you sure it is Muskrat? I ask because all the ones that have shown up on my pond have their den entrance underwater. Around here most people recommend trapping but I have a couple of dogs whose mission in life is to examine every inch of shore line several times daily. We are afraid they will tangle with the traps. A 22 rifle has become the muskrat eliminator here. They would be welcome to share the pond with everything else except the burrowing into the dam has worn out their welcome. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

MarkV

bczoom · May 1, 2005

Mike,

My approach is what Dargo mentioned. Shoot if you can, conibear traps if you can't (or can't wait long enough).

For bentonite, first try a well drilling service. They should have it. If not, check with a groundwater remediation service (the places that clean up around gas stations and such).

Brian

thcri · May 1, 2005

Throw a couple of them sulpher sticks down there. Light them and put a cover over the hole. If anything is down there it will be dead. Then fill the hole up with something so nothing else moves in.

murph