TNRing in cold weather: Bait

Now that it's getting cold, so is the bait I put in the trap, to the point where it gets almost frozen within ten minutes.  Do you have any suggestions for keeping the bait warmer, longer, other than heating it before putting it in the trap (logistically difficult)?  Or do you find the temperature of the bait a non-issue.

I mix mackerel and cat nip and sometimes a little Friskies (their usual wet food) in a three oz can and then put that can into a five oz can.  I use the dual can method because some of the cats were able to drag the one can far enough towards them that they could eat the contents without tripping the plate. I also drizzle some of the oil/broth leading to the can.

Also, I may be expanding the territory where I normally TNR to about a block away and will run into the same cold-bait issue. There are a lot of stray/dumped cats about a block away that I'd like to trap, especially when for whatever reason, I'm not getting any cats in my colony the first night/morning.

Thanks.

You could perhaps use such a heating pad as described in a thread near here...  Works ut to 12 hours.

There being somewhat warmer in the cold will be perhaps even additional bait. 

HI . Yeah - the cold weather makes trapping very, very difficult. I had to do it last December in extremely bitter temperatures. Although, these were cat's right outside in my yard so I could go in and out and replace the frozen bait. But what a PITA :lol3:.... I do know that colony trappers do use the outdoor heating pads and put them under the traps to help keep the bait from freezing so quickly. I used sardine's in oil. You could drizzle the oil all over the sardines and near the outside of the trap. I guess the feral's can still smell the frozen food though. Pretty amazing :nod: I had to keep going out there and changing the bait - but was able to do this because I was trapping right in my back yard... Much luck and I am going to try to find some more winter trapping tips for us to consider

Thanks. I'll have to look into outdoor heating pads.  I do not have access to electricity where I trap.

I had a idea:  what about hand/foot warmers that construction workers or ice skaters use?  I could put one in a mitten, and then place the can of bait on top of the mitten.  Or simply place the bait directly onto the warmer.  But I'm concerned that if the cat totally freaks out, it may puncture the packet; "nontoxic" to humans, but what about to cats?  Based on Wikipedia research, some hand warmers (one time use only) contain cellulose, iron, activated carbon, vermiculite and salt; others (reuseable) "generate heat through exothermic crystallisation of supersaturated solutions (typically sodium acetate)."

Any chemical engineers out there?  Or, runners ?

Thanks.

:lol3: I am a chemical engineer but I would worry about a puncture too . You could place it under the trap itself. I just happened to talk with another trapper this morning about a colony of feral's next town over that I am going to help keep watch on the traps each day. We are going to share time slot's :lol3:. Anyway - SHE had a great idea - but we need sun. Those solar cover's they use those. Wrap the trap in one of those and POOF warm and cozy inside. Again, you need sun and we don't get much of that here these days . Just another thought. YEAH - most of us do not have electricity where trapping needs to take place - but they have those microwaveable heating pads. There is a thread here talking about those - I will find it. You would place the trap on top of that pad .

Here is that thread on those heated pads - no electricity needed

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/239185/heated-cat-pad-idea

Feralvr said:

 they have those microwaveable heating pads. There is a thread here talking about those - I will find it. You would place the trap on top of that pad .

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There are two additional plusses here. 1. The trap becomes warmer than the outside, and thus becomes a bait in itself. 2.  When it is very cold, you dont want the trapped cat be longer inside than perhaps one hour. As it cant move freely nor seek hers protected hide.  No big deal if it is your garden, but if it somewhere else..

But the trap somewhat warmed, you dont need to look at it every hour. You can use two heat pads if you want to be sure. 10 hours, you can sleep calmly the whole night, and still have a safety margin.  
 

Thanks all, I'll order one or two.  Great point StefanZ about the trap itself becoming somewhat warmed so I don't have to check it every hour.  Hopefully the trap won't be too inviting that I trap a cat I've already trapped!  Well, at least he'll have a nice, warm rest....

Ritz said:

Thanks all, I'll order one or two.  Great point StefanZ about the trap itself becoming somewhat warmed so I don't have to check it every hour.  Hopefully the trap won't be too inviting that I trap a cat I've already trapped!  Well, at least he'll have a nice, warm rest....

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:lol3: YES - let's hope you do not re-trap an already TNRd kitty. BOY - that trap WILL be nice and cozy. AND great thought on Stefan's part , you won't have to stay up all night watching the trap as I did last December. I don't think I slept for three days in a row But trapped six cat's ALL in frigid ten degree temps. My hands were trashed after those three day's - so cracked and sore..... but it was worth it