Bobcat traps and human urine

February 20, 2013 3:10 PM

What effect would a human peeing on a bobcat trap have on the efficacy of the trap. Would it tend to repel the bobcat, attract it, or neither?
posted by Manjusri to pets & animals (2 answers total)

In my experience with trapping (which was for mammals other than bobcats), the common wisdom was that it was helpful to remove all human scent from a trap, and we did that on an active basis by boiling the traps in walnut hulls.

That said, I doubt you will find a study that conclusively proves this one way or the other and it may be an old wive's trapper's tale.

And, if you try it, really try not to get too close to the trigger plate when you pee, really....
posted by HuronBob at 3:31 PM on February 20 [3 favorites]

You may also find that, whatever effect it has on bobcats, the smell of urine on the trap may attract deer.
posted by jquinby at 4:06 PM on February 20 [2 favorites]