How to Trap Shews

Although a shrew looks like a mouse, it is not a rodent. A shrew is a carnivore, a voracious little eater that consumes seven times its weight in food every day. With that kind of appetite, shrews are constantly on the move in search of food, which takes them to places where they are not welcome---such as your house or outbuildings. Lethally trapping shrews is not difficult, and it is the best way to get rid of them when the unwelcome guests make themselves at home.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden mousetraps
• Raw bacon
• Sewing thread

Instructions

Trapping Shrews

1. Purchase several wooden mousetraps from any hardware store. This type of trap has a square wire jaw that lies on the front portion of the trap when it is not set. The jaw is attached to a tension-loaded spring running across the middle face of the trap. A wire is pinned to the rear portion. This wire presses down on the set jaw and hooks under the lip of the trap's bait trigger, holding the set jaw down on the rear portion of the trap.

2. Bait the trap trigger with a piece of raw bacon. You must bait the trigger before you set the trap. Cut a piece of bacon twice the size of the trap trigger, double it over and tie it to the trap's bait trigger with sewing thread. Because the shrew is a meat eater, the strong smell of raw bacon will call it in.

3. Set the trap. Hold the rear end of the trap's wooden base and pull the wire jaw back toward you. Hold the jaw down tight with your thumb, bring the wire over the jaw, and hook the bent end under the side lip of the trap trigger. Hold the wire in place from the rear where it is attached to the wood and gently let your thumb up off the jaw. The tension on the wire and jaw will hold the jaw back and down. The trap is now set; do not touch the trap's bait trigger. Illustrated instructions for setting the trap will be on the package the traps come in.

4. Place the trap so the front end is up against a wall or other solid object. A shrew is small and can be missed by the snapping trap jaw if it comes to the bait from the front. The jaw is closer to the bait trigger on the sides. Having the shrew approach from the side will better the chances that the jaw will snap down on it.

5. Attracted to the bait, the shrew will walk across the trap and begin feeding on the bacon. Tying the bacon to the trigger means the shrew has to pull at it, which will trip the trigger and bring the jaw down on it.

6. Dispose of any dead shrews immediately. Handle the dead shrew with gloves to protect against disease. Reset the trap as before.

Tips & Warnings

• Set traps in various places, as the shrew may hunt one area and not another in the course of a night.

• If the trap sits out for a couple of days without a catch, remove the old bacon bait and replace it with a fresh piece. Shrews prefer fresh meat. Snap the trap before doing this.

• If you prefer not to kill the shrew and just want it gone, there are several live traps on the market, including those listed under Resources.

• Use caution when setting the trap. Keep your fingers out from under the jaw once it is set as it can deliver a nasty sting if you trip the trigger accidentally.

• If you have a trap that will not set, and the wire keeps sliding off the trigger and snapping, dispose of it as it is faulty and dangerous.

References

• Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management

Resources

• Shrew traps