My First trapped possum!

I think you'll like this true story!!!   July 2004. After my success with the rooster, I decided to track down some leg traps - as I'd also seen a lot of Possum damage at different places on farms and properties belonging to friends and family members. Varmint damage is easy to spot once you know what to look for. The traps were quite expensive to buy, but I managed to obtain some from the MAF officer at Westgate - who was only too happy to give them to anyone who was prepared to help conserve our natural resources in this way. My first night was a success! Pictured here with my first possum since I stopped trapping them as a kid in the Waitakere Ranges. Now the adventures REALLY began!!!   Leg traps can be dangerous, and trap unwanted prey, so - always set them underneath an 'open-ended' box or small shelter. They can be dangerous when you have to set them by opening the jaws with your fingers while carefully setting the trigger.  In fact, one day I was setting them in the bush and they snapped shut on my fingers! Here I was in the middle of the bush with my fingers in a leg trap! Fortunately I had taken my phone - and had reception. I phoned Debbie - and shouted 'I've got my fingers stuck in a trap and can't get them out!' Being the calm and loving person she is - she managed to 'talk' me through getting my fingers released. That nearly did it for me, and I almost stopped using the leg traps. There's an old saying that 'necessity if the father of invention', so I made a few inquiries on the safety of leg traps. Apparently you are meant to use your FEET to step on the jaws to open them - NOT YOUR FINGERS!!!    Wish I knew that before!