HAVAHART 1079SR Large 1-Door Humane Catch and Release Live Animal Trap Cage - Live Raccoon Trap, for Bobcats, Beavers, Dogs, & More

We are having a particularly intense infestation of 'rockchucks' this summer. A rockchuck is a yellow-bellied red marmot, a close relative of that Phil character that is used to, um, predict the remaining winter in early February. While active, they decimate flowers and vegetables, so aren't desirable. We live very close to the edge of a National Forest, and while we recognize that we live in their territory, I'm more than happy to relocate the marauding garden terrorists back to those forests. Enter the live traps.It took a few reads of the simple instructions to pick up all the nuances. The sheet is written for several related models, with different details for each. After those reads and some head scratching where hair used to grow, the actual setting up was fast and easy. I followed some internet advice, worth every penny I paid for it, as I selected a bait for our particular visitors. Nothing. Last evening at a neighborhood meeting, I found out that watermelon and cantaloupe rinds are favored here. We'll see how we do, hopefully better with the right bait.The trap itself is easy to set up, and it's a size that should fit and hold our rockchucks. Perhaps as important, the size is just right to fit into a large garden-waste trash bag. That's essential before placing a scared animal in the back of the car for a ride back to a wilder place. Plus it will contain any excess pee and droppings that would otherwise end up in the car. It's a ten-minute drive or so to get them beyond any normal 'homing' range, no need to traumatize them unnecessarily.Neighbors who use traps these speak highly of them. I will to after the right bait draws the several beasts who have been feasting on my flowers.I'll update if the results are less than great.----Update after a few successful weeks of use --Thanks to watermelon rinds as bait, 'Rocky' and 'Chuck' have found new homesteads to enjoy, several miles from ours. Neither seemed particularly happy to be in the trap, although each did manage to consume all of the rinds during their visit time. They each thanked me for the food and the rides by chattering their teeth as I gathered them up for the vacation trip.A large lawn-sized leaf bag is just the right size to put the trap in for the rides in the car. It took a little careful lifting and sliding to get the trap into the bag each time. I'll be honest that I tried to do it all gently, but it proved more challenge than I was ready to suffer. The traps went on-end on the folded-out bag, spilling the guest into the bottom end long enough to pull the bag over the trap. Once the bag was tucked closed, safe to put it into the car. Quiet back there with the bag clocking the view. This wasn't a sightseeing tour, apparently; they must have misread the travel brochure. After several miles of forest service road, a pile of rocks seemed the perfect spot for a new rockchuck nation to spring up. Open the door, and the little guys hotfooted it over to the rock formation. Then almost immediately turned tail and hauled butt across the road and off into the forest. After all the love and care I'd put into choosing a new home for them...The bags got tossed and the traps were thoroughly cleaned with the hose and brush. Ready for the next varmint attack and invasion. Rockchucks apparently go somewhat dormant in later summer and fall. The traps will come back out when they decide to come help harvest our garden veggies and flowers again.More: The traps are shipped pretty much ready to use. They don't fold for storage, so be ready for the storage space they will use up. The traps themselves are constructed from plated steel wire mesh and sheet metal parts, and easily resisted the teeth and claws of the rockchucks. Still, I'm not sure they will last if left in outside storage over long periods. I suspect the wire will rust at the weld points given sufficient time and exposure. That probably wouldn't affect function, but appearance would suffer.Hope this helps!

This company makes the best traps and has for years. I bought some cheaper versions at tractor supply years ago and still use them as well but if you happen to catch a more aggressive raccoon in the tractor supply version, you’d better know how to repair them. I’ve had a raccoon bite through the wire on the cheaper versions and peel back a section of the base near the metal door. I wasn’t sure what able to replace that section and still use the trap successfully, But if you want to just catch and release without having to repair the trap after each catch, you need to go with this Havahart version for sure. A little tip, if you find your bait missing or find the door closed with nothing inside, you’ll need to do some adjust in on the sensitivity of the release mechanism. I’m sure there’s got to be a YouTube video out there to show you how. Don’t automatically assume that the trap isn’t any good.

The Havahart 1079SR Live Animal Trap has been a lifesaver for safely capturing and releasing unwanted critters around my property. I’ve successfully trapped raccoons, groundhogs, and even a couple of cats without any harm. The trap is built sturdy, with a reliable, sensitive trigger that ensures a quick and secure capture. It’s also super easy to set up and use — no complicated instructions. The handle makes it simple to carry the trapped animal to a safe location for release. If you need an effective, humane way to deal with nuisance wildlife, I highly recommend this trap!

Trap works exactly as advertised and comes ready and assembled. The setup is super easy and very intuitive. My only drawback is that the box was damaged and the trap itself slightly dented in the corner. Also, I don't care for the sharp edges on the clamps at the far end of the trap. There are, in fact, a lot of very sharp metal edges around the door and trigger mechanism. It seems like just sheet metal was cut into strips without smoothing the edges; you really have to be mindful when handling it.

The trap worked the first time I used it. Had a ground hog digging under my back porch for 2years. Set the trap with a sliced apple, next morning the ground hog was in the trap. Easy to use.

Works good. You just have to be smarter than the coons!! We wired a tin wet cat food container to the middle area and put scraps in there. They will just reach through to get the food out, so it needs to be out of their reach.

Pest control was going to charge me $700 to catch this one guy. Luckily this trap was very affective along with some marshmallows leading him into it.A YouTube video will help you set it up for success.