If your area is hit by a natural disaster such as a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake, it is possible that the supplies you have stored would be damaged or destroyed by the disaster, in part or in whole. This may mean that you are required to search out food sources quicker than you had planned on. Not all of us are experienced hunters living within walking distance of hunting grounds, and game animals may also have been affected by the disaster. But, scavengers and domestic animals are likely to still be in the area. These are a few ways of catching them for food.
String-activated
One of the easiest ways to trap animals such as birds is to drop a trap on them by pulling a string when they are under it. After a disaster there may be debris laying around, a few 3-4 foot pieces of 2×4 would work great and they can be easily assembled into a square with used nails. Then attach whatever you have as netting over the frame, a sheet or cloth will work if no netting is available. Prop the trap up at a steep angle, less than 45 degrees, with a stick. Tie a string or rope to the stick that is long enough to allow you to pull the string from concealment. When the birds or other critters are under the trap eating your bait, pull the string.
Trash can trap
Scavengers are always on the look for another meal. After a disaster not only will opossums, racoons, or pigs be scavenging, but also former domestic animals like dogs and cats. One thing sure to survive nearly all disasters is a trash can (or 5-gallon bucket for smaller animals). To trap a scavenger in a trash can dig a hole as wide as the can, and as long as it is tall. The hole should be deeper at one end so that when the trash can is laid on its side in the hole with the open end at ground level, the bottom of the can is deeper by a foot or two. Throw food waste like bones or rotten food in the can for bait. If you can grease the can with something like cooking oil or even Vaseline. This will make it very hard for the animal to get back out after trying to eat the bait. This trap will only work on animals that are big enough that they cannot turn around, or small enough they cannot climb out.
Snare
If you have observed an animal moving in your area, or noticed a worn trail, this is an opportunity to use a snare. Locate the best point to set your snare, such as on a worn trail, or in a hole in a fence used for entry. Tie a loop in what every material you have, then feed the other end through the loop until you have a second loop just larger than the head of the animal you are targeting. Place this at the entry point with the loop being unavoidable, don’t give the animal the option of ducking under the bottom or nosing around the sides. Make the entry point as small as you can, and place the loop in such a way that the animal’s natural movement will have it slip over it’s head and tighten as it goes forward. Once it is tight, it will not loosen even if the animal backs up. Secure the other end as best you can.
None of these traps are lethal in and of themselves and the animals you will be trapping will be fighting for their lives. Some of them can be deadly, even if they seem to have given up. Always have a plan to safely kill the animal you trap.
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