About the capture and extermination of palm civets

Civets are characterized by a white line running from their head to their noses, but they can cause various damages to crops and human living environments ( reference article: Countermeasures against civets ).

According to a survey by the Ministry of the Environment, crop damage caused by palm civets amounted to about 400 million yen nationwide in 2018 (a decrease of 15 million yen from the previous year), and the main countermeasures are the extermination and capture of crops. increase. In some areas, the damage has become more serious, and some local governments have started to take measures to support extermination and capture.

For example, in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, if residents catch palm civets in traps rented by the city, they will collect and dispose of them free of charge from this year (previously, the catchers paid for the disposal costs). In 2019, the city caught 166 palm civets, the highest number ever, and agricultural damage amounted to about 10 million yen.

What you need to capture and exterminate palm civets

Wild birds and animals such as palm civets are protected by the " Wildlife Protection and Hunting Appropriate Law" (Wildlife Protection Law) and cannot be captured without permission.

When capturing civets, it is necessary to apply for a capture permit in advance to the government office. Illegal capture is subject to penalties, so first contact the department in charge at the government office.

*Since palm civets fall under the category of birds and beasts targeted for hunting, during the hunting season (November 15th to February 15th), if the conditions necessary for hunting are met, no permission is required to capture them at the government office.

General flow

Below is the general flow of the hunting permit application process.

(1) Application for capture permission

Each municipality has its own application form, so fill in the necessary information there and submit it to the counter.

Since box traps are used for trapping, a trapping license is required. In addition, there are cases in which a hunting license is not required only when the purpose is to prevent damage from vermin on the premises of one's home.

* For box traps, see this article .

②Examination

The government office confirms the content of the application and examines whether it is necessary to capture it. If a person with a trap hunting license applies, it may be confirmed whether he was registered as a hunter in the previous year, whether he subscribed to a hunting disaster mutual aid, etc., and whether he has violated wildlife-related laws and regulations in the past. .

③Issuance of permit

Applicants will be issued a capture permit. It may take some time from application to approval, so it is a good idea to apply early if you see any damage.

④Implementation of capture

Since the period of the capture permission is set, the capture work will be carried out within that period. In most cases, the captured palm civet must be disposed of responsibly by the applicant and not released to another location.

⑤ Capture result report

When you return the capture permit to the government office, you will be asked to report the results of the capture.

Municipal support

Like Utsunomiya City introduced above, there are various types of support provided by local governments, so be sure to make use of them if necessary. Some of them are introduced below for your reference. *For details, please contact your local government office.

Box trap installation by a professional: Itabashi-ku, Tokyo

If all of the following conditions apply, a professional contractor entrusted by the city will install the box trap.・The request must be from the owner or manager of the damaged building.

・Be able to attend preliminary surveys and set up and collect traps.

・It is possible to check the box traps every day.

・Preparation of bait to be put in the box trap ・Be able to change it as necessary.

・If a fish is captured, it must be possible to immediately contact Itabashi Ward or a specialized company.

Click here for details>>

Capturing palm civets at the expense of the city: City of Yokohama

We are catching civets that live in houses and damage crops on the premises (the city bears the cost). * Damage outside the premises of a house, such as farmland, forests, or corporate management facilities, is not covered. Click here for details>>

Rental of fishing-related equipment: Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture

Equipment for euthanizing captured palm civets (Unraccoon) is available for rent. Click here for details>>

Recommended box trap for catching palm civets

Box traps are often used to catch palm civets. There are no restrictions on the size of the box trap, but it is better to use one that is easy to transport and set up. On the other hand, if it is too small, the catch rate will decrease, so as a guideline, the size of the box should be about 40cm x 40cm x 80cm.

Robust box trap with many delivery records

It has earned a good reputation from many dealers, hunting associations and local governments as a "cheap and good catch box trap". The trigger is a kick string type and can be used in various ways. Lattice net wire diameter 4mm x square mesh 50mm, reinforcement of grid net panel The border is reinforced with three-quarter bars (9mm). It is a box trap with excellent durability, long service life, and excellent cost performance.

Very popular. Folding type box trap for easy installation

It is foldable, easy to set up, and has an affordable price. The trigger is a footboard type, attracting the target animal with bait and stepping on the internal plate to complete the capture. Since the iron plate is attached to the lower part of the handle, it is designed to prevent injury even if it is harmed from inside the net.

Capture method

Find places where there were intrusion routes, food marks, footprints, feces, etc., and set up box traps. It's a good idea to check that the trigger is working properly and that the box trap is securely fastened to prevent it from tipping over. Predict the movement of the location target, set the box trap entrance in the direction the beast is approaching, and attract it with bait.

Palm civets are omnivorous, mainly eating plants, but they prefer ripe fruits and vegetables. Fruits (bananas, grapes, cucurbits, melons, apples, etc.) are mainly used as lure. You can expect a higher catch rate if you place the box trap in a state where it is not activated, sprinkle some bait on it for a break-in period, and activate the trap after confirming that it is eating the bait. .

Check the condition of the trap at least once a day while setting up the trap. If a non-targeted beast is accidentally caught, release it immediately. After the capture period is over, remove the box trap immediately.

Measures to prevent secondary damage after capture

After capture and extermination, secondary damage and recurrence prevention measures may be required. Specifically, this includes blocking entry points, cleaning excreta, disinfecting and sterilizing pathogenic bacteria and mites, and antiseptic treatment to prevent floor decay. is certain.

It is a good idea to select multiple vendors that you believe to be reliable, and select the one that you can judge to be able to provide more appropriate prices and services from among them.