The last user of this humane small animal trap left a posting in the SharableThings support area, which we take the liberty of re-posting here. Many thanks, Kathleen.

"Just a quick note to add to the last post (which pretty much covered all bases). We were very happy to be able to rent Michael's trap as it saved us from having to hire the services of a pest control company. The particular squirrel we were trying to catch was a wily one and somehow managed to get the bait a couple of times without tripping the trap. Can't figure out how this could happen as we followed the instructions to the letter. There were also one or two times when the trap tripped and still no squirrel. In any case, after two weeks of this I was ready to call it a day. But my husband insisted we keep trying and after another 3 weeks he succeeded in catching the critter. He released him into the wilds of North Vancouver (we live in the East side so we figure having a bridge between us should be good enough). Regarding bait, we found that this squirrel just couldn't resist fresh roasted peanuts in their shells (despite having many close shaves with the trap tripping on him). I suppose my message to others who may use the trap is that when it comes to squirrels persistence really does pay off. We wish anyone else who tries the trap in the future the best of luck and a big thank you for offering this great service."

Thanks for the feedback, Grims. This humane animal trap is out on a sharing expedition again. I think I will link the current sharer to your advice about how to use the trap. Cheers. Mac

Grims - Thanks very much for a great message about using this humane animal trap properly and about your experience using it. I've taken the liberty of re-posting your message in the SharableThings' blog. Regards. Admin

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! :)

Grims - I hope the trap works for you. For those who come after you, I'll note here that you have experience using traps like this and recommended peanut butter or almost anything with nuts in it as bait for catching small animals in such a trap. We'll look forward to the report of your success. Ah, and where are you going to release the squirrel when you've caught it?

Hi Grims - I would be pleased to lend you the trap. No charge if you record your success in using it here! I will email you through this site my telephone number to call. All the best. Mac

Hi Mac. I've been looking to buy a live trap to remove a squirrel from the attic. Borrowing or renting one for the job would be a far better solution. Is the trap still available? - Grims (I'm on the west side as well)