My squirrel trapping (with a trip to the park) this spring started out pretty well with nine trappings so far; however, I have run into a bit of a problem.  "Skippy," our collective name for chipmunks, has discovered the trap.  He is going inside the trap and eating all of the bait (I use raw peanut pieces).  Skippy isn't big enough to trip the trap, so he happily goes along his way leaving the trap empty for the squirrels who now have no interest without the bait.  

I do remember having this same trouble last year with Skippy, so I tried smearing peanut butter inside the trap.  I had moderate success with the peanut butter, and Skippy didn't seem to care for it.  By far, using the raw peanut pieces works better, but I will give the peanut butter a try again this year.  

On a humorous note from last year's trapping ... 
One morning I looked out our window to see Skippy STUCK between the wires of the cage!  His jaws were so packed and he had gotten himself wedged along the side of the trap.  I guess he had forgotten that there is a big opening at the entrance of the trap he could have used to get out. Anyway, I went outside and gave him a BIG PUSH through the wires, and off he went.  

"Kiwi," our Cesky Terrier, has earned a new name ... KILLER!  The other afternoon, Kiwi caught a SQUIRREL!!  I suppose she figured I wasn't having enough success with my squirrel hunting, and she would help me.  I chased her around the yard trying to take the squirrel from her, but she was having a big time shaking the poor thing to death.  I finally was able to corner Kiwi, and get the squirrel from her, but sadly, it was already dead.  I had a little ceremony for the squirrel and buried her in the garden.  I know Kiwi had planned to eat the poor thing and then come inside an throw it up!

"Kiwi" ... alias KILLER!