Weasels are not as glorious as foxes, mink,
marten, lynx, or wolves, but they can be just as rewarding
to capture. Pound for pound, they are the most ruthless
and vicious killer of all furbearers. Weasels love to
dine on mice, rabbits, rats and birds. They also account
for large poultry losses.
When I was a youngster, weasels were causing heavy rabbit
losses at my father's beagle club. Beagle clubs are used
for beagle training and field trials, and are the home
of many cotton-tailed rabbits. Predators are not welcomed.
One member of the club, Bob Meckley, built some weasel
boxes and put them in place. He asked my father to check
them, and my father gave me the job.
Meckley showed me where the boxes were placed, how to
dispatch a live weasel, how to bait, and how to reset
the small undersprings and longsprings. I remember setting
the tiny traps with the aid of my feet. Just the thought
of catching a weasel was all I needed. My anticipation
while checking those boxes was always high. And so at
8 years old, my trapping journey began.
Dad and Meckley had five weasel box sets, plus three pole
traps set for owls and hawks, for me to check. Pole sets
were legal in the late 1950's and 1960's. Trapping birds
of prey is now illegal in the United States.
After several catches and two seasons of checking the
beagle club's weasel boxes, I knew I enjoyed weasel trapping.
It is an enjoyment that has followed me throughout life.
I wanted to expand my trapline, so I asked my father to
build some boxes to set near our home.
Growing up on the banks of the Susquehanna River, where
the North and West branches meet, my brother, George,
and I always had places to hunt, fish and trap. We had
and adventurous Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn-style boyhood. We
spent many a summer day conditioning Dad's pack of beagles
in the river bottom. We'd cut'em loose on a rabbit, then
head a half-mile upriver to Adam's Eddy, our camp site.
We would occasionally check on the beagles, but we swam,
fished, caught snapping turtles and scouted for muskrat
and raccoons. I also looked for likely weasel locations.
I found a swamp that looked promising, and several piles
of old railroad ties over an embankment.
Dad had three weasel boxes made before season. I placed
two near the swamp in a briar patch and the other against
the old railroad tie pile. I placed cracked corn in the
boxes to draw mice in and to get a mouse smell, a trick
I picked up on from Meckley. At the club, cut up weasel
carcasses were used to bait the boxes. However, Dad gave
me part of his first rabbit of the small game season to
use for weasel bait.
My three boxes yielded several weasels and a lot of fun
that season. In addition, George and I caught muskrats
and Raccoons in the swamp and old canal that season.
As I grew older, foxes, muskrats, mink and raccoons became
my target animals. Weasels took a back seat. Then, when
I was in my late 20s, our beagle club had a weasel problem
again. My services were required.
My trapping skills had improved by then. Once again, my
motivation was to save our cotton-tailed rabbits. I found
the old weasel boxes stored in a corner of the beagle
club's barn. I made minor repairs and prepared to set
them.
I set six boxes without bait, but used cracked corn and
bird seed to draw mice. After six days of checking empty
traps, I was frustrated and humbled by this tiny predator.
And to top it off, as I walked back to my truck, a weasel
popped up from a brush pile.
I stepped closer, he came closer. I had my walking/dispatch
stick with me. I readied myself and struck. The lightning
fast weasel avoided my blow and appeared, again, on top
of the brush pile. He was fast and fearless. I took aim
once more, and came down hard. A clean miss. It was like
trying to catch my shadow. He appeared a third time, and
I half-heartedly tried again, with no luck. He looped
away while I beat on the brush pile.
On the drive home, I tried to figure out why I couldn't
catch a weasel. I have caught weasels in the past on just
mice smell or out of our curiosity. Seeing a weasel in
the daytime is not uncommon, but they are mainly nocturnal.
And yes, there was still corn and bird seed in my boxes.
The mouse population must have been down. The next day,
I took some rabbit out of the freezer to use as bait.
I added some muskrat musk.
Two days later, I started catching weasels. I figured
the mouse population was low and the weasels were feasting
on our rabbits. I learned that fresh bait with a good
lure works best on weasels.
A few years later, Don, a friend and fellow beagler, said
he was finding dead rabbits in his training enclosure.
He said the rabbits had no apparent marks except a small
bite on the neck. I told him that is sounded like weasel
kills.
He asked me to set traps. I lured and baited two weasel
boxes in his training enclosure. Don handled checking
and resetting. In three-month period, he caught 27 weasels
in his 12-acre enclosure. He definitely had a weasel problem.
The Color of Weasels
Weasels are common throughout North America. The white
weasel, or ermine, lives in the northern parts of the
United States to the Arctic Circle.
The long-tailed weasel is found from southern Canada to
South America. This is the most common species seen in
most parts of the United States. Long-tailed weasels turn
white in the winter only where snow falls.
Weasels' coats are brown in the summer, but white in the
winter, except for the top of the tail, which is black
all year. The change in coat color is a complete molt
that occurs twice a year. As the days grow shorter in
fall, less light is received through the animal's eyes.
As a result, certain glands stop functioning, promoting
the molt and causing a lack of pigment development in
the hair cells. In spring, the reverse process occurs.
Set Locations
Set location is a critical aspect of trapping. Weasels
like and hunt in heavy cover. Their prey lives there,
and cover offers them protection from owls, hawks, mink,
bobcats, feral cats, and foxes.
Good weasel habitat includes briar patches, stone fences,
stone piles, blown-over trees with roots, hollow logs,
old stumps, brushy fence rows, dense pines, brush piles,
log piles, old buildings and barns. Weasels' body structure
and quickness enables them to follow prey almost anywhere.
Weasels' narrow heads, muscular necks, sleek bodies, short
legs and speed make them a top predator in tight cover.
Constructing Sets
Several basic sets can be used on weasels. I
have used cubby sets, large snap traps, coffee-can sets
and my favorite-the weasel box set.
Cubby sets can be made of stone, brush or pine boughs.
Place lure and bait inside, and position a small foothold
trap in or newar the opening. Use guide sticks to ensure
the weasel crosses between the jaws and onto the pan.
Rat traps can be nailed, screwed or wired to a post, stump,
or old building. Pre-drill holes in rat traps. When removing
nails from rat traps, be careful not to destroy the trap
by splitting the wood. I use screws and a cordless drill.
Rat traps can be fixed to a lathe or a wooden stake and
placed in likely locations, then removed at the end of
the season.
Put the bottom of the trap 3 tp 4 inches above the ground.
tie a bait on the pan and place lure above the trap. When
set, the spring should be on top. Wire or nail a pine
bough over the trap to protect it from weather. I dye
my rat traps so they blend in with the landscape. Check
your local laws on exposed baits.
To make a coffee-can set, drill two small holes in the
bottom of the can and run wire through the holes to hold
both in place. Place the can sideways on the ground and
set the trap as you would for the cubby set. Place a large
stone on each side and stone on top. you can also wire
the coffee can to a post or tree. Fasten it about 6 inches
off the ground, and place the trap directly underneath
the can. Use a cotton ball or cotton swab for a lure holder
and place it behind bait.
The weasel box set is a box constructed of old or weathered
lumber. Drill a 2-inch hole in each end. Set traps just
inside of each hole, and place lure and bait in the middle
of the box. NO bottom is needed, but a roof is required.
A stone on the roof will prevent larger animals from messing
up your set. The weasel box set is the best all-weather
set for weasels.
Trap sizes used for weasels include #0 longsprings, #1
undersprings, #1 coilspring, #1 1/2 coilsprings or longsprings
and the snap-type rat trap. I recommend smaller traps
for this short legged predator.
When setting cubbies, coffee cans or boxes, position the
trap so the weasel will step between the jaws of the trap.
use wire to fasten traps at cubby and coffee can sets.
Tie the wire to the trap chain, then tie it off to a root,
sapling, stone or brick.
Weasel boxes have two traps guarding both ends. Wire both
trap chains together. Another method is to hammer two
large fence staples to the inside of the box. Use a quick
link or split ring to connect the chain to the staple.
Weasles are not trap-shy, so no trap covering is needed.
When trapping during freezing conditions, bed traps on
crumbled wax paper.
Baits and Lures
Any fresh, bloody meat is a good bait for weasels. Baits
include rabbit, muskrat, beaver, mink, chicken, or mice.
Weasel carcasses are also good bait. Using a good weasel
lure with the bait will increase your success.
Weasel lure is not advertised often, but several lure
makers have a limited supply in stock. Ask your lure dealer
early.
Trap Tuning
To achive faster action and response from small traps,
file the trigger end and pan notch. Square these areas
up, while removing burrs and rust. The resuld will be
a fast, clean action when the pan drops under this light-footed
predator.
Always set traps on a hair trigger. Weasels weigh between
4 to 7 ounces. Waxing your foothold traps is recommended
to increase the firing speed.
Marketing Your Catch
Ermine is a traditional fur worn by royalty on occasions
of state.
The black powder, buckskin and Indian trade use many weasel
pelts. In addition, there is a market for weasel skulls.
Lure makers buy weasel glands, and often will trade lure
or supplies for glands.
Ask around, and you might open your own market for weasel
pelts and parts. By selling more than just pelt, you can
double or triple the value of your weasel catch.
Conclusion
Many seasons have passed since my boyhood days. With each
new season, pursuing our smallest furbearer is filled
with anticipation and enjoyment.
