The coon traps sound like the monkey traps. They would take coconut shell, clean it out, and cut a 3/4 to one inch hole in one end, and use the natural hole in the other end, and run a string through it, and make a knot , so it could not be pulled out, and then they would tie the string to a stake, or limb. They they would put pieces of coconut in the larger hole, and set the coconut on a log, or limb, and like the coon the greedy monkey would not let go till captured. Another trap, was for getting rid of rats, and it was just a large, gallon or more jar, with the lid off, and a piece of paper tied over the top, or use a rubber band, and then with a razor, cut a large " X " in the center of the paper. Then suspend a piece of cheese or bread on a piece of string just above the the " X ", and when the rat goes to get the bait, oops, in he goes. The one I made as a kid, was filled with water. Got rid of a couple of rats that way. Can't remember where I read about that one. I think it might have been in the " Boys Handbook " a Friend of mine gave me. It was his dad's. I was printed in about 1905 or so. Had things like whale bone shooters, etc. There is another simple squirrel snare, you can make also. Just wrap a piece of baling wire, around a limb, and then wrap a loop above the limb, and tie, a slip noose, and suspend it in the loop. Bait, the trap, or if it is a limb that is used often you don't have to bait it. You can also use existing limbs, and twigs, on the larger limb to suspend the loop.
Stick Bender
