Connibear traps

Mike wants to know what a Connibear trap is.

Mike, I haven't seen one for 20 years and I have been hoping someone else would answer that. My experience has been with the #330 which I believe is the largest made. They are to trap beaver, coyote, etc. My memory is a little hazy so please make allowances. The # 330 is of a spring wire frame construction . The wire is about 5/32 inch diameter and when set has a square opening of about 10 inches.

In principle, their action is similar to the old fashioned Victor mouse trap, the jaw snaps down and catching the animal between the jaw and board, The Connibear is placed in a vertical position. When animal passes through, a trigger springs the trap, the top jaw swings down and the bottom jaw swings up with such force the animal is killed and held. There is a spring on both sides of the trap that is so strong that a special tool is needed to set them.

That is a terrible description but is the best that I can do without using my hands or making a post a yard long.

If'n you're really interested in seeing what a Conibear Trap looks like, go to this link.

They also come in different sizes. I used to use a smaller one, seems like it was about 5 inches across, which you could set with your hands (very damn carefully). They were especially effective for ground squirells that used to get in and eat my hens eggs and kill the baby chicks. But you have to be careful where and how you use them, because they'll kill anything that gets in them, including cats. And they wouldn't do a dog's face a bit of good either. They are very powerful. I saw the pics mentioned in the other post, if you imagine looking at them sideways when set, the wires form an X.

Thanks guys, Interesting subject.

I've used 440's That may very well be the largest.