Choose a live trap with one trap door if you plan to set it against a wall or tree. Purchase a live trap with two trap doors if you plan to place the trap on a trail.
If you are using a double-sided live trap, place the trap in the center of the trail so that the rabbit can enter from both sides. If you are using a single door live trap, place the trap against a large pile of brush or against a tree that is surrounded by obstacles so that the rabbit cannot go around the trap. Look for rabbit scat along trials and in areas where you have seen rabbits before.
If the rabbit’s trail leads to a rabbit shelter, place the trap in the entrance of the shelter.
If the trap doesn’t activate, be sure to reread the directions and set the trap again. If you suspect that your trap is defective, contact the business you purchased it from and ask for help. They may be able to help you over the phone or ask you to return the trap.
You can also spray apple cider vinegar into the trap as a supplement to the bait you’ve already placed, or by itself as the primary bait. Catching a wild rabbit is easier in the winter months because there is less food and the rabbit’s will be lured in by bait more easily. [4] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
If you are using a two door live trap, the trapping mechanism will be in the center of the live trap. The weight of the rabbit is what trips the trapping mechanism, allowing the door to fall.
Some areas, like the state of Washington, require a permit in order to move or relocate wildlife, including cottontail rabbits.
If you are able to move the rabbit right away, it is still important to place something over the tarp during transportation. The chances of the rabbit’s survival decrease when they are exposed to trauma or stress, so treat the rabbit as if it were your pet.
The relocation point should be far from any roads or other people’s homes, as the rabbit will often start heading back in the direction of its capture.
Hire a professional to install the fence for you if you do not have the resources or experience to install a fence on your own. Chicken wire will keep the rabbits from digging or burrowing under the fence.
The most effective repellents smell like fox-urine, or like the urine of other predators. [9] X Research source
