Live traps are not humane.

[athena]

This post is a public service announcement, as there appears to be a lot of misunderstanding around this issue. As the Humane Society explains in the article below, relocating wild animals like groundhogs and squirrels is not only cruel to them, but it does not even solve the problem the homeowner is trying to solve.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/scrap_the_trap.html

Excerpt:

Although homeowners mean well, wild animals do not “settle in” quickly to new surroundings, no matter how inviting that habitat may seem to humans. In fact, the odds are heavily stacked against any animal who is dumped in a strange park, woodland, or other natural area.

A 2004 study of grey squirrels who were live-trapped and relocated from suburban areas to a large forest showed that a staggering 97 percent of the squirrels either soon died or disappeared from their release area. Take it from the animal’s point of view:

Suddenly in an unfamiliar place, she is disoriented and doesn’t know where to find shelter, food, or water.
She’s in another animal’s territory, and she may be chased out or attacked.
She doesn’t know where to go to escape from predators.
She may desperately search for babies that she is now seperated from.

In the meantime, her helpless young are slowly dying. Even if the orphaned young are discovered, rescued, and taken to a wildlife rehabilitator to be reared, it remains a bleak situation for both the mother and her offspring, and one that could have been easily prevented.

[Warpy]

1. The only way they can be justified is if a critter is living indoors

and pest control has already eliminated access points. Then it makes sense to trap inside and release outside.

Just don't be surprised if said pest chews another way in a few months later. Pest control owners stay rich from people who think they can relocate live animals outdoors.

[dhill926]

2. Good points...thx for this...