Muskrat Colony Traps

by Garry McLaughlin
Newark, Ohio

(Note: Mr. McLaughlin's informative book on Muskrat trapping can be found at this link.)

     One of the best places to use colony traps is in narrows or pinch points.  Most people use them sucessfully in marshes but never dream of using them in streams. I use them often when I have a stream that has narrow places.  This stream is about 12 feet wide but it almost clogged with water weeds.

You will find that the muskrats will swim on the surface in these areas, so you must use diving sticks to force them to dive just before they get to your trap.  I place diving sticks about 4 or 5 inches from both ends of the trap right at the surface.

Another good place to use colony traps is at underwater holes that are out in a pond rather than next to the bank.  This photo shows a den entrance that is about 8 feet from shore due to the low water level in the pond.
 

 Hope this gives you younger fellows another way to catch a few rats ....... Garry