Porcupine bait??

Sharkbite · May 12, 2015, 04:02 PM

Anybody got a good bait to use to trap Porcupines?? Ive got a trap and need something delicious to bait it with.

Thanks

Old Stony · May 12, 2015, 04:28 PM

I think I would try canned cat food. I have caught all manner of critters by just using a open can of it. Racoons, possum and armadillo all come running for fish flavored cat food. I just open a can and put it inside a live trap. Unfortunately skunks seem to like it too.....

skizzums · May 12, 2015, 05:23 PM

cat food sure is some stinky stuff. I always hear of peanut butter for rodents.
http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/profe...upinetrap.html

Quote:

One of the major problems for porcupines in the wild will be finding a good source of salt, so some people will often use a piece of bark or leather that has been soaked in a salt solution as the bait for the trap. The salt can also be combined with vegetable oil or pieces of carrot or turnip to make suitable bait.

that's about as specific as they get though

Doyle · May 12, 2015, 05:25 PM

Porcupines love salt. They'll chew axe handles to get the salt left by your sweat. With that in mind, I'm thinking salted peanuts.

Pahoo · May 12, 2015, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Porcupines love salt.

That is true and here is mine and tastes better than cat food ....

Open up a can of sardines, eat them and place the empty can in the cage. Along with many a varmints, be prepared for a few Ditch-Tigers ....

Be merciful and;
Be Safe !!!

CarJunkieLS1 · May 12, 2015, 07:32 PM

For Armadillo's I will mow my grass and then water it immediately...makes the grubs and worms come up plus the ground is softer for them to dig. Then I wait and just pop them in the head with a .22

Also I had and heard of good luck using Little Debbie Honeybuns when trying to catch possums, raccoons, skunks, etc.

Rangerrich99 · May 12, 2015, 07:52 PM

Pretty sure porcupines are vegetarians, though cat food or sardines being as salty as they are might work anyway. I know one's eaten most of the cork handle on one of my fishing rods many years ago. Maybe just a small piece of rock salt or a chunk of salt lick?

Gunplummer · May 13, 2015, 01:37 AM

I agree, use a chunk of a salt lick. It will keep most of the skunks out of the trap. Porkys are brutal on anything with salt. As said, they go after axe handles, canoe handles, cabin and outhouse door handles, and don't ever let your boots out on the porch. I think salt should be fine.

zplinker · May 13, 2015, 08:51 AM

Having seen porkies all over horse trailers, eating any sweat/salt soaked leather they can find, I'd just soak an old boot in some salt water. And if you're down south a ways, you might want to sprinkle a little hot sauce on too...

skizzums · May 13, 2015, 10:17 AM

Can porc smell salts?

Doyle · May 13, 2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Can porc smell salts?

They must smell something. Else how would they be attracted to so many human things that contain salt (handles, boots, etc.).

Gunplummer · May 13, 2015, 09:50 PM

Deer smell minerals.

buck460XVR · May 15, 2015, 11:45 AM

I'd try some dog meat. Seems my Bird dogs attract several porkies every year........

rickyrick · May 15, 2015, 07:03 PM

Ok, why the heck would someone want to trap a porcupine?

What do they like to eat?

Most critters like corn and sweet things.

When I was trapping raccoons I would use marshmallows... Even though other meaty things would work...
The barn cats like fishy meaty things and cat food, of course. Skunks too.

Now about the corn... Lots of critters like corn, especially pigmy goats... Getting a full-grown pigmy goat out of a raccoon box trap is a chore. I could never tell, but it seemed like the goats weren't too bothered by being in a trap with corn lol.
Anyhow, marshmallows singled out raccoons and opossums

Doyle · May 15, 2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Ok, why the heck would someone want to trap a porcupine?

The only reason I can think of is to relocate it so that your dogs aren't constantly getting tangled up with it.

Sharkbite · May 15, 2015, 07:48 PM

Ding ding ding. We have a winner.

Quote:

Quote:
Ok, why the heck would someone want to trap a porcupine?
The only reason I can think of is to relocate it so that your dogs aren't constantly getting tangled up with it.

Ive got no problem killing the little critter, but i cant find him. So, trap him and deal with him at my leisure.

Pahoo · May 15, 2015, 08:05 PM

I understand that Native Americans who had porcupines in their area, would never hunt them. They wanted to make sure that they would always be available when things got harder and they could harvest them with little effort or weapon. ....

Be Safe !!!

Rbrt3474 · May 15, 2015, 09:04 PM

I caught a porcupine in a coil spring trap once. Was trying to catch a coon eating my deer corn, didn't even know we had porcupines until he was in my trap! Had the trap baited with sardines, based on what others said it might've been the salt....

Pahoo · May 15, 2015, 09:26 PM

Quote:

based on what others said it might've been the salt....

Ya can't eat a chunk of salt but if ya open up and eat a can of sardines, then put the empty can in the cage .....

Be Safe !!!

rickyrick · May 15, 2015, 09:46 PM

Ok that makes sense lol

buck460XVR · May 16, 2015, 11:12 AM

Porkies are vegetarians. Around here, their winter diet consists of conifer needles, buds and the bark of pines, hemlock, maples and birch. From Spring thru fall, they will eat shoots, succulent twigs, roots, seeds and fruit/vegetables (both wild and domestic). The reason they crave salt so much is because the Porkies need sodium to rid their bodies of high levels of potassium they get from eating leaves and bark. From my experience, porkies travel the same routes over and over and their dens and these trails are relatively easy to spot, especially in the winter time. They also have a distinctive habit of defecating in the same place, many times using the same hollow tree or stump for most of their lifetime. Their scat piles are very easy to identify. Finding these places would tend to lead to success, IMHO, more than the specific bait you use.

Art Eatman · May 17, 2015, 08:35 AM

FWIW: Porcupines are also found in the deserts of SW Texas. I've seen a few dead ones along US 90 between Del Rio and Marathon. We have the occasional, "My danged dog..." events in Terlingua.

Gunplummer · May 17, 2015, 10:46 AM

I always thought armadillos were porcupines that went bald. Guess I was right.

T. O'Heir · May 17, 2015, 02:36 PM

"...porcupines are vegetarians..." Worse than that. They're vegans. Salt is the thing. Just be sure you're live trapping. Killing porky is illegal in most places.

Sharkbite · May 17, 2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

"...porcupines are vegetarians..." Worse than that. They're vegans. Salt is the thing. Just be sure you're live trapping. Killing porky is illegal in most places.

Killing em is legal here, on your property, if they destroy real or pers property. Ive been out at dusk with my suppressed 22/45. No luck. Hoping he wanders into the trap and i can dispatch him then.

May 12, 2015, 04:02 PM	#1
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	Porcupine bait?? Anybody got a good bait to use to trap Porcupines?? Ive got a trap and need something delicious to bait it with. Thanks

May 13, 2015, 10:17 AM	#10
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	Can porc smell salts? __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

May 15, 2015, 07:03 PM	#14
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Ok, why the heck would someone want to trap a porcupine? What do they like to eat? Most critters like corn and sweet things. When I was trapping raccoons I would use marshmallows... Even though other meaty things would work... The barn cats like fishy meaty things and cat food, of course. Skunks too. Now about the corn... Lots of critters like corn, especially pigmy goats... Getting a full-grown pigmy goat out of a raccoon box trap is a chore. I could never tell, but it seemed like the goats weren't too bothered by being in a trap with corn lol. Anyhow, marshmallows singled out raccoons and opossums __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

May 15, 2015, 08:05 PM	#17
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Wise men talk !!! I understand that Native Americans who had porcupines in their area, would never hunt them. They wanted to make sure that they would always be available when things got harder and they could harvest them with little effort or weapon. .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

May 15, 2015, 09:46 PM	#20
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Ok that makes sense lol __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

May 12, 2015, 04:28 PM	#2
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I think I would try canned cat food. I have caught all manner of critters by just using a open can of it. Racoons, possum and armadillo all come running for fish flavored cat food. I just open a can and put it inside a live trap. Unfortunately skunks seem to like it too.....

May 12, 2015, 05:25 PM	#4
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Porcupines love salt. They'll chew axe handles to get the salt left by your sweat. With that in mind, I'm thinking salted peanuts.

May 12, 2015, 07:32 PM	#6
CarJunkieLS1 Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2013 Posts: 686	For Armadillo's I will mow my grass and then water it immediately...makes the grubs and worms come up plus the ground is softer for them to dig. Then I wait and just pop them in the head with a .22 Also I had and heard of good luck using Little Debbie Honeybuns when trying to catch possums, raccoons, skunks, etc.

May 12, 2015, 07:52 PM	#7
Rangerrich99 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Location: Kinda near Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,254	Pretty sure porcupines are vegetarians, though cat food or sardines being as salty as they are might work anyway. I know one's eaten most of the cork handle on one of my fishing rods many years ago. Maybe just a small piece of rock salt or a chunk of salt lick?

May 13, 2015, 01:37 AM	#8
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I agree, use a chunk of a salt lick. It will keep most of the skunks out of the trap. Porkys are brutal on anything with salt. As said, they go after axe handles, canoe handles, cabin and outhouse door handles, and don't ever let your boots out on the porch. I think salt should be fine.

May 13, 2015, 08:51 AM	#9
zplinker Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2011 Location: way out here Posts: 262	Having seen porkies all over horse trailers, eating any sweat/salt soaked leather they can find, I'd just soak an old boot in some salt water. And if you're down south a ways, you might want to sprinkle a little hot sauce on too...

May 13, 2015, 09:50 PM	#12
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Deer smell minerals.

May 15, 2015, 11:45 AM	#13
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	I'd try some dog meat. Seems my Bird dogs attract several porkies every year........

May 15, 2015, 09:04 PM	#18
Rbrt3474 Member Join Date: March 3, 2015 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 30	I caught a porcupine in a coil spring trap once. Was trying to catch a coon eating my deer corn, didn't even know we had porcupines until he was in my trap! Had the trap baited with sardines, based on what others said it might've been the salt....

May 16, 2015, 11:12 AM	#21
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Porkies are vegetarians. Around here, their winter diet consists of conifer needles, buds and the bark of pines, hemlock, maples and birch. From Spring thru fall, they will eat shoots, succulent twigs, roots, seeds and fruit/vegetables (both wild and domestic). The reason they crave salt so much is because the Porkies need sodium to rid their bodies of high levels of potassium they get from eating leaves and bark. From my experience, porkies travel the same routes over and over and their dens and these trails are relatively easy to spot, especially in the winter time. They also have a distinctive habit of defecating in the same place, many times using the same hollow tree or stump for most of their lifetime. Their scat piles are very easy to identify. Finding these places would tend to lead to success, IMHO, more than the specific bait you use.

May 17, 2015, 08:35 AM	#22
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	FWIW: Porcupines are also found in the deserts of SW Texas. I've seen a few dead ones along US 90 between Del Rio and Marathon. We have the occasional, "My danged dog..." events in Terlingua.

May 17, 2015, 10:46 AM	#23
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I always thought armadillos were porcupines that went bald. Guess I was right.

May 17, 2015, 02:36 PM	#24
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...porcupines are vegetarians..." Worse than that. They're vegans. Salt is the thing. Just be sure you're live trapping. Killing porky is illegal in most places. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!