Is this the trap made in Australia?
No. BCM's trap is similar in that it has two banks of lines. Beyond that, the designs diverge significantly so be prepared to unlearn some procedures you may be familiar with.

What happens if a line breaks? Will the whole panel go down?
If a line is broken, no adjoining line will go with it. Each line is securely fastened to the top of the trap and can be individually adjusted. The line is tied off on the bottom of the trap using a tensionless knot.

Why not have set screws on the bottom of the trap to totally eliminate knots?
One of the biggest differences between the G4 and the previous G3 is the line attachment. The G3 had set screws holding the lines across the bottom, identical to the top. Extensive usage revealed that the lines occasionally snagged on the set screws during deployment, costing set up time. In addition, the line created a pinch point for bat's wingtips between the line and the bar which now has been eliminated.

2006 Update: The G5 Trap goes back to the having screws both on the top and bottom. Upon discussions with users across the country, we determined most people are not deploying at sites where high numbers of bats are expected, thus reducing our fear of wing pinching.

Without "knots" at the top, what if a line breaks?
The lines are held to the top of the trap using a set screw. It is unnecessary to wrap the line more than once around a set screw. The line should always go under the rubber washer. The line is held fast by the set screw, allowing it to quickly be strung, replaced, or individually tensioned. Once properly tensioned, an individual line will probably never need readjusted. Also, set screws do not "ratchet" the lines tighter, simply loosen the screw, pull the line to the desired tension, and reset the screw.

Does the trap need strung on each use?
Good grief, no. The bottom rods detach and rolls the line up for storage. The set screws only need adjusted once if individual tension is off or a line breaks.

Seems complex. Can one person set this up?
Absolutely. Harp traps are complex, know what you are dealing with before ordering. Setup (and take down) is easily managable by one person provided they have practiced a few times in daylight. The 6' trap collapses enough to reach the top without having to tilt the harp or perform any risky balancing maneuvers.

Won't bats suffocate in the plastic catch bag?
The catch bag is designed as all plastic exterior with a small strip of interior canvas as a roost platform. It is conceivable that if a trap is left unattended with hundreds of bats for a long period of time, there may be an issue of reduced air circulation. Frankly, a "traditional" urine soaked canvas catch bag will have the same issue. No trap should be left unattended for long periods of time since besides being immoral and left open to predation, it would likely in violation of the state trapping permit which specifically states the frequency of trap monitoring. At very busy sites on many occasions, we have had a number of bats inside the catch bag at once without any sign of unusual stress. Do not allow more than 75 bats to pile up in a 6' catch bag, or more than 50 in a 3' catch bag The all plastic BCM catch bag is much more sanitary to the biologist, super easy to remove bats, easy to see bats from a distance, and easier to clean than other designs. We will never use a canvas bag ever again.

Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Purchase orders may be subject to some processing delays due to vendor paperwork within your institution. We accept government Visa credit cards as well as regular Visa/MC/AmEX/check/MO and cash. Please fax your purchase order to 717-241-2228 and ALSO order online here. Traps MUST be ordered online to ensure delivery, for purchase orders simply select "check" for billing option.

What about returns or defective equipment?
Be aware that harp traps are fairly complex devices with numerous machined parts. Additionally, there is a right way to use them and many, many wrong ways. Expect to spend several hours familiarizing yourself with the trap's versatility before on site use. No matter how many other traps you may be familiar with, disregarding the manual will surely result in hours of frustration and misunderstanding. We stand behind the craftsmanship and usage of the device as advertised. We will repair or replace any defective part and may refund the purchase price of the device (except shipping costs) should the buyer decide this was not the tool for their particular job.

I'd like one shipped internationally, please?
Traps can be shipped internationally. Please write to jchenger@batmanagement.com for quotes and include your full mailing address and phone number. Expect shipping to be $100-$400 US depending on where it is going and it will take about 10 days. Any duties, tariffs or broker fees are not included in the order amount and will be collected by the shipper upon delivery. Any such fees are the responsibility of the customer.