Using Live Animal Traps To Catch Wild Rabbits

Rabbits are a fixture of modern culture today. If you doubt this, just wait until spring when the Easter Bunny makes its annual appearance in every grocery store and mall in the country. But there are differences between the sweet, cuddly, clean baby bunnies typically sold as pets and a band of marauding wild rabbits (or even a single rabbit-gone-wild) that can tear up gardens, strip berry bushes and leave behind droppings, pests and debris.

In this post, learn how to safely and humanely trap wild rabbits in a live animal trap.

What Kind of Trap is Best for Trapping Rabbits?
Most wild rabbits stay rather small in size. The average wild rabbit will be about the size of a pet cat. But certain rarer species of wild rabbits (as well as escaped pet rabbits turned wild) can grow larger - up to the size of a raccoon or a small dog.

So it is very important to choose a trap that is sized properly for the size of the rabbit you are trying to catch.

Once you have the size selected, this list gives you some other tips for the best cage features to look for:

- Resistant to weather damage from humidity and rust.
- Sensitive spring-loaded bait triggers and door releases.
- Sturdy cage with smooth inner edges so the rabbit won't get injured.
- Sturdy long handles so the handler won't get bitten (many wild rabbits carry disease and have two long, sharp front teeth they are not afraid to use when cornered!)
- An opening big enough for the animal to get in but small enough to discourage easy escape.

What Kind of Bait Should Be Placed in the Trap?
Rabbits eat only vegetables - no meat. So the best bait hands-down will be the same organic veggies they have probably been eating out of your garden! You can use lettuce and carrots as both are favorite treats.

Here are some other bait options you can try:

- Apples (also you can drip some fresh apple cider around the trap to play to rabbits' love of apples and strong sense of smell).
- Radishes.
- Brussels sprouts.
- Very ripe bananas.
- Raw cabbage.
- Potato peelings.

NOTE: Don't use pet store rabbit food. Wild rabbits likely will steer clear since they won't recognize the food and may think it is poison.

Where and How Should the Trap Be Set Up?
The ideal location for your rabbit trap will be in an area the wild rabbit travels daily. But you do want to avoid placing it in a spot where there is a lot of wild animal (or local free-range pet) traffic, or you are likely to trap the wrong animal.

If the rabbit has gotten into your basement, attic or storage shed, you can place the trap inside. This will give you a better chance of trapping the right animal humanely on your first try.