Humane Animal Trap

The Bonham Animal Control offers residents a chance to capture small animals that may be causing problems in their neighborhood by using humane live traps.

To request a live trap you will need to contact an Animal Control Officer at 903-640-8245. There are only a limited number of live traps available, which may require that you be placed on a waiting list for the next available live trap to be placed at your residence.

Trap Instructions

Check the trap on a daily basis - Leaving an animal in a trap for an extended period without notifying the Animal Control Officer constitutes Animal Cruelty under the laws of the State of Texas, and is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

Do not set the trap on the day before or the day of a holiday, and do not lend the trap to any other person or remove it from your property. Responsibility for the trap is solely yours during this agreement, and you will be held responsible for any expenses incurred by Bonham Animal Control to repair or replace the trap if it is damaged, lost, or stolen.

Call us at 903-640-8245 as soon as possible. Tell the Dispatcher your name, address, phone number, and what is caught in the trap.

Bait

Use cheap, smelly, canned food. The worse it smells to us, the better it smells to animals. Be sure to slide the bait into the trap so that it will not interfere with the operation of the foot pedal. This usually means setting the bait behind the pedal.

Some suggested baits for wild animals include:

• Squirrels: Peanut Butter on bread, nuts, field corn, popcorn, or crackers
• Skunks: Peanut Butter on bread, peanuts, an egg, or a piece of raw chicken
• Foxes and Coyotes: Raw, spoiled meat or chicken, smelly canned dog food
• Armadillos: Raw potato or carrot, other root vegetable. It is also possible to "guide" an Armadillo into the trap by creating a funnel with boards. The Armadillo will wander into the area and, because they do not back up or turn around, be guided into the trap. Some people have even captured Armadillos with this method without using any bait.

Where to Set the Trap

• Set the trap on a fairly level spot. Try to keep it out of sight so it doesn't get stolen.
• In the summer heat, set the trap in a shady spot so captured animals won't get overheated.
• Make sure the trap is not set where the animal will be exposed to fire ants.
• Please don't put it under the building, Animal Control Officer will not go under any building.
• Try to leave it in the same place for each pickup, so the officer may find it quickly.