Either of the traps recommended may be set on a known route of the
mountain-lion, preferably at a point where the route narrows. Being a
great wanderer, the animal generally has well-defined crossing points
where it passes from one watershed to another in its search for food.
Many of these are in the low saddles of divides, and at such crossings it
is not uncommon to find "scratch hills," heaped up by the mountain-lion
in covering its urine. The writer has seen as many as eight such hills
in an area 4 feet square. They are sometimes 3 to 4 inches high and 4 to
6 inches in diameter. Frequently old or fresh feces may be noticed near
them. These hills make ideal places for setting traps, but should be left
in a natural condition.
The mountain-lion is trapped as it comes through the saddle of the divide
and stops to visit a scratch hill, being attracted either by the hill
itself or by a catnip lure placed there as described at the top of page 5.
[Illustration: B4339M
Figure 1.--Trap most suitable for mountain-lions (No. 4½),
showing drag chain and double-pronged drag attached]
When the carcass of a domestic animal, deer, or other prey found in a
control area shows unmistakably that a mountain-lion did the killing, at
least three traps should be set around it, each 15 to 20 inches away.
When the carcass is found lying on its side (Fig. 2.) one trap should be
set, as later described, between the fore and hind legs, another near the
rump, and a third near the back and parallel with the loin. These traps
constitute a carcass set and require no lure other than the carcass.
Frequently it is well to set a fourth trap 6 to 8 feet away if tracks
show the exact route taken by the lion in approaching or leaving the
carcass.
_Caution._--Trappers, especially when using the No. 4½ trap, should take
every needed precaution to safeguard livestock and valuable or harmless
wild animals; and, where necessary, should post signs to warn human
beings.