Grims borrowed Mac's live animal cage trap then posted a message about his experience.

The message was perfectly in the spirit of sharing. It also said a lot about how to use a live animal trap properly.

Here, reposted, is the message. We hope you enjoy it.

"Hey Mac, thanks so much for lending your trap. When I borrowed the trap, I did so hoping that I wouldn't need it. There was a squirrel in the attic at my mother's house and I was charged with it's removal. My plan was to wait until mid-day when the squirrel would be out foraging for food, patch any entry holes from the outside of the house, and then set the trap as a back-up plan (in case the squirrel stayed home that day or had another way in) I set the trap in the attic using walnuts as bait (any nut will do) and then proceeded to squirrel-proof the attic. Apparently I got the job done because there were no more squirrel noises in the attic, the trap was empty for a week, and I ran into a rather unhappy looking critter climbing around the house looking for a way in."

"If I would have caught the squirrel, my release site would have been somewhere like Central park in Burnaby. The reason behind this is that most of the squirrels that we encounter in the city are Eastern grey squirrels, an invasive species native to the other side of the country. Central park is essentially an island of park surrounded by urban sprawl. It is already packed with squirrels and it is far enough from wild space that it doesn't pose a huge threat to populations of Douglas or flying squirrels (our much smaller native species). If you catch a non-native animal, please don't release it into wild space."

"I thought I'd add a few tips for those wishing to trap small mammals. The safety of the animal is the primary concern. If you're trapping in the winter, make sure there is some sort of food and dry bedding (shredded newspaper perhaps) in the trap. If the trap is out in the open, make sure there is something covering it (maybe sheet plastic held down with rocks) to protect the critter from the elements. The most important thing is to check the trap frequently. If you have set a trap, it is your responsibility to make sure that there is no animal suffering needlessly inside. Traps should be checked at a minimum of twice per day (twelve hours apart) but I prefer three times a day at 8 hour intervals. Any trapped animal should be dealt with immediately (it helps to transport them in the dark). Make sure to wear thick work gloves when handling squirrels. Those teeth are sharp! :)"

THANKS, GRIMS.