Learning to trap will unlock exciting new opportunities as wildlife conservationists. Regulated trapping helps maintain healthy, abundant wildlife populations, allows habitats to thrive and provide ample resources, and keeps a balance between wildlife populations and people.

Every year trappers provide wildlife biologists with valuable data for research and population monitoring that are key components of wildlife management. Trapping will teach you important problem solving and critical thinking skills to increase self sufficiency and provide you with a highly rewarding new challenge.

Raccoons are an important predator of ground-nesting birds, reptiles and amphibians. The management of abundant predators, like raccoons, is an important component of balancing predator and prey populations, while also reducing disease transmission and conflicts.

Enclosed foothold traps, sometimes referred to as dog proof (DP) traps, are a humane, safe, effective, and beginner-friendly way to target raccoons while reducing potential accidental catches of non-target animals like domestic pets. Another benefit of DP traps is that they capture and hold an animal alive, allowing the option for release. DP traps have been tested and meet rigorous standards for trapping best management practices when capturing raccoons and Virginia opossums. This course is designed to teach new and young trappers the fundamentals of using DP traps responsibly while introducing them to hands-on wildlife management practices that directly support Maine’s conservation goals.

Learning Objectives

This workshop builds on the foundation of basic trapping education and focuses on practical, hands-on instruction with dog proof traps.

By the end of the course, students will gain the skills and confidence needed to safely and effectively set DP traps, prepare baits and lures, recognize raccoon behavior and habitat patterns for effective trap placement, and understand the importance of predator control in wildlife management.

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

Gain hands-on experience setting dog proof traps safely and effectively
Learn how to attach swivels, chains, and earth anchors
Learn how to make and use dog proof bait
Learn how to make and use a berry trailing lure
Recognize raccoon behavior and habitat patterns for effective trap placement
Understand the role predator management plays in protecting Maine’s wild turkey population

Learn to Trap: Setting DP Traps for Raccoons - Augusta