A GARDEN VARMINT TRAP: MOTHER'S CHILDREN
How to build a humane box trap to protect your vegetable plot, including materials, diagram, how the trap works, construction.
Issue # 106 - July/August 1987
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By Matt Haight
Matt wears stiff gloves when handling any animal—like this rabbit—caught in his garden-guarding trap. He uses unshelled corn or pieces of apple for rabbit bait, and walnuts and lure squirrels. To protect his trap from human thieves, he always sets it in an out-of-sight, sheltered location.
MOTHER knows that many youths undertake interesting, original projects and also start their own small businesses. To support these endeavors, we buy and publish well-written articles from children and teenagers concerning their efforts. However, we recommend that all young authors query (that is, send us a letter telling about the story they'd like to do) before writing a full article. Send your queries to Mother's Children, MOTHER EARTH NEWS, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, NC 28793.
Having trouble with varmints in your garden? If so, you'll appreciate the Haight family secret I'm about to share. Back when I was seven years old, my dad taught me how to build a box trap that will catch rabbits, squirrels, rats, birds and opossums. He learned how to build it from his dad, and we really don't know where Grandpa picked it up. It works great, it's perfectly humane and it's easy to build. You can even make it for almost nothing if you salvage your materials, and it will capture the animals that raid your garden. Then you can simply haul them off and release them in the woods.
Using ¾” plywood or 1" lumber (both are actually ¾" thick), cut two 19" X 8¾ pieces for the sides . . . one 19¼" X 7" piece for the top . . . one 20" X 8¾ piece for the bottom... one 8" X 7" piece for the front... and one 16" X 8¾" piece for the rear. You will also need about 2½' of nylon string, a handful of 2" nails, two 1½" wood screws and a 6" X 6" piece of metal screen.
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