The Trap Man Squirrel Single Live catch Trap Setting instructions. Place thumb on lever with the spring attached on the right of cage (cage door facing you) press firmly down this will unlock and open door.  Place you left hand inside the door opening, whilst holding the door to the roof of the cage, pull the setting bar towards the front of the cage, this will engage the end of the setting rod just through the open part at the base of the door, remove your left hand slowly and release the door. The door should now be suspended by the setting bar, the treadle should be at approximately 30°. The trap is now set and requires baiting  under the cage directly under the treadlef, you can use peanuts, nuttella, a small slice of snicker bar or even dry cat food works too. Really resourceful squirrels may be able to remove the bait without setting of the trap, if this happens use snicker bar clipped to the underside of the treadle and set the trap very lightly or under the trap directly under the treadle. Raise the carrying handle clear of the trap, to prevent your fingers being bitten by the captured animal.

Trapping will be most successful in the spring & early summer when natural food is limited and the grey squirrels will be more eager to take the bait. But traps can be set at any time that damage is observed, avoid trapping on very cold wet days as the captured squirrel my suffer from exposure and die. Please note the legal constraints below
How and where should the trap be set? The success of any trapping operation depends on the ability to find sites for the traps that grey squirrels will visit regularly to feed. The best sites are under a large tree where the ground is fairly clear of vegetation. Avoid areas close to public paths and badger runs. At the chosen site, level an area of ground sufficiently large to accommodate the trap. Place a small handfull of yellow whole maize inside the trap and scatter more food around the entrance of the trap and for an area of about two meters around it. If the grey squirrels have become used to feeding on peanuts then it may be necessary to provide these as bait, Check the trap to see whether a squirrel has used it by examining the maize. Squirrels only take the small white part of the maize, leaving the rest. Put more maize in and around the trap if necessary. Once you are confident that the area is being used by grey squirrels, set set the trap
Checking the trap Once the trap is set it must, by UK law, be visited at least once a day. We would recommend more frequent checking. If the bait is being eaten and the trap is not being tripped the probable reason are that mice or similar small animals are taking the bait the animals are not heavy enough to trip the trap, if you suspect this is happening raise the trap clear of the ground.
Dealing with trapped animals Any non-target animals (red squirrels, birds, hedgehogs, etc.) must be released immediately. Open the door of the trap, tie or fix the door open and move quietly away to let the animal escape. Hedgehogs can be prevented from entering the trap by putting a brick or similar sized object under the door end of the trap thus raising it sufficiently to prevent hedgehog's from entering the trap. Captured grey squirrels can be humanely dispatched by placing the open end of a hessian sack around the door of the trap. Run the squirrel into the sack and manoeuvre it so that its head is in the corner then kill with a single blow to the head. If you are unfamiliar with this method of killing small mammals, take the animal (in the trap and inside a sack) to a vet for humane despatch. It is illegal to release a grey squirrel once captured. Legal Constraints There are several legal constraints that you must be aware of: Once set, the trap must, by law, be checked at least once every 24 hours. The legal methods of despatch are shooting, a single blow to the head, or humane despatch by a vet. It is illegal and inhumane to drown, stab, batter or cause unnecessary suffering to the animal. Some vets will humanely despatch grey squirrels for people using live-traps. Always phone the vet first to check that they will be available and ask about charges. Trap maintenance, periodically lubricate all moving parts using a smear of petroleum jelly. When the trap is laid up out of use wrap the whole trap in an oil soaked rag more instructions and photo's online............. Trap Setting Instructions LINK on the left near the bottom of each page. TheTrapMan also offer E Mail help for as long as you own the trap. Please email help@TrapMan.co.uk , If you are going to telephone please quote your item OR invoice OR transaction number so that we can deal efficiently with your call. If you want advice TheTrapMan is normally available tel 01772811522 Opening hours 9-5 Mon-Thurs 9-12 Fri, Lunch 12-1