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Animal Escape and Recapture Suggestions

1. Make sure the animal's cage is escape-proof. Periodically inspect all aspects of the caging. Parts tend to wear out and become loose which may give an animal an escape opportunity.
2. Only handle the animal if you are properly trained and never leave an animal alone or unattended once it has been removed from its cage. When cleaning the animal's cage, make sure secure temporary housing is available.
3. Where possible, cover all vents with a fine wire screening and install door sweeps to cover that small gap between the door and the floor, weather stripping will do the job. Both these items can be found at a local hardware store. At home, a rolled, stuffed draft guard would be sufficient.

Should your animal get loose, here are some suggestions for recapturing it:

1. If you want to use a live trap, have-a-heart traps are designed not to harm an animal upon capture and can be set up in any part of the classroom. They are also available at hardware stores and from pest control offices.
2. Most animals will come out of hiding when an area is quiet or when they are hungry or thirsty. You may be able to lure your animal out with food or water by either of the following ways:
   1. In the evening, try putting food in the cage, leaving the door open, and placing the cage as close as possible to where you think the animal is hiding. During the night, it may return to it's cage.
   2. Make a ramp with a piece of wood up to a bucket in which you have placed some food. Then make a little trail of food on the floor up to the piece of wood. Finally put enough food in the bucket so your animal will go inside for it. Make sure the bucket is tall enough so the animal cannot climb out again.

If you are unsure where the animal is, the following methods may help you narrow down your search:

1. In the evening, spread some sunflower seeds in each room, count the number you leave, then shut the doors. The next morning you may be able to tell which room the animal is in by the number of remaining sunflower seeds.
2. Place a pile of food in the center of the floor. Then make a dusty circle with flour around the pile. After the animal comes to eat, you can follow the paw prints to it's hiding place.

Once you have located your animal, do not attempt to pick it up with your bare hands; use protective gloves. If the animal appears nervous or there is any question about it's behavior, use a scoop to pick the animal up. A scoop can be made out of an empty plastic milk jug.