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Fitch (1951) presented details for an effective simple funnel trap for 
catching snakes and lizards: 
“The model used consists of a piece of hardware cloth wire, one-fourth or one- 
eighth inch mesh, rolled into a cylinder and held in this shape by having the edges 
turned back and pounded together. An entrance funnel of the same material is fitted 
firmly into each end. First, each end of the cylinder is turned inward at right angles, 
for half an inch or so, forming a skirt. The elasticity of the hardware cloth tends to 
hold the funnel in place when it has been forced into the cylinder as far as it will go. 
Shingle nails woven through the meshes of the funnel and the end of the cylinder to 
maintain firm contact between them provided reinforcement which was found to be 
especially desirable in traps liable to be disturbed by predators. Striped skunks, 
spotted skunks, raccoons and probably domestic cats occasionally broke open the 
funnel traps to prey upon the trapped animals. Effectiveness of the traps is increased 
by attaching a valve-type, transparent, cellulose acetate door inside each funnel 
opening. This permits use of a larger entrance through the funnel. The door pivots 
on its upper edge, which is perforated and threaded with a fine wire attached to the end 
of the funnel. A trapped animal can be removed easily by putting the funnel from one 
end of the trap and shaking the animal into a cloth bag.” 
Fitch used two sizes of traps, 7 inches long and 3 inches in diameter for 
small lizards, and 15 inches long and 6 inches in diameter or even larger for 
snakes and larger lizards. The traps must be sheltered from direct sunlight 
by setting them in the woods or by placing rocks or boards over them. In 
this study traps were placed where natural objects such as sunken logs, walls, 
or rock outcrops would guide the animal to the mouth of the funnel. 
Imler (1945) and Dargan and Stickel (1949) have described slightly more 
elaborate funnel traps for snakes. The latter authors used funnel traps with 
drift fences of hardware cloth, 12 inches high, which were extended 25 feet 
from each end of the trap. A 2-foot wing was placed obliquely at each corner 
of the trap to help guide snakes into the funnels. Snakes followed the drift 
fences to the trap. 
Another model of funnel trap, used for lizards, was described by Vogt 
(1941). This consisted of a wooden platform, one metre square, raised 5 cm 
off the earth by narrow boards nailed to the edge of the underside. Two 
gaps were left in diagonally opposite corners, one closed by a plug and the 
other containing a funnel. The bottom was wire mesh. The attraction is 
the cover provided by the board. Animals may be taken out by removing 
the plug and shaking the trap. In these traps no bait was used although 
Jorgensen and Orton (1961) give evidence of some lizards having eaten 
oatmeal in traps. 
Moulton (1954) used a rectangular trap of wire screening on a wooden 
frame with a funnel inserted in an oval opening 2\ inches above the floor of 
the trap. The outside entrance of the funnel was made level with the ground 
by placing the trap in a shallow depression. A collar was placed around the 
inner end of the funnel as an aid in preventing the escape of captured animals. 
The funnel of this trap was placed in an opening in a low fence of tar paper, 
reinforced with fine wire and held upright by small stakes driven into the 
ground at intervals on both sides of the fence. The fence covered a portion of the 
periphery of a pond to which spring breeding amphibians were migrating, and 
the arrangement was effective in trapping them on this journey. Storm and 
Pimentel (1954) also employed a fence and funnel traps to collect amphibians 
on their way to a breeding pond. 
Carpenter (1953) employed the Fitch model funnel trap for aquatic 
amphibians. The traps which had a 6- to 10-foot rope attached were cast 
into the water the length of the rope and pulled into a position where the 
