"FRIPP SIMPLE GHOST CRAB TRAP"

      Materials                                          Assembled
   

• 1 ea. - 1 gal.. plastic jug (windshield washer fluid or equiv.)        
• 1 ea. - 1 qt. tall plastic bottle (isopropyl alcohol or equiv.)
• 1 ea. - sheet of coarse sandpaper

Assembly Instructions

• Cut a hole in the bottom of the gal.. jug to the circumference of the qt. bottle sized to fit snugly.
• Cut the ends OUT OF the qt. bottle leaving a 1/8" curved inside lip.
• Trim the sheet of sandpaper to 1/4" shorter than the height of the qt. bottle.
• Roll the sandpaper sheet into a tube with the smooth side out sized to fit snugly into the qt. bottle.
• Slide this rolled tube into the qt. bottle.
• Glue the edge of the sandpaper tube at the top and bottom to keep the sandpaper from unraveling (hot melt glue works but Gorilla Glue® works better).
• Slide the long end of the qt. bottle into the hole in the bottom of the jug leaving 3" exposed.

OPERATION

• Discard the jug's cap to permit the free exchange of fresh air.
• Place the traps 3" projection inside a "fresh" ghost crab hole and lock the trap in place with packed beach sand.
• To remove the crab from the trap turn the jug upside down, slide the small container out, place your hand in the opening with the index finger extended, pull your finger out and the crab should be firmly attached.
• Relocate or recycle the crab as you see fit.

  ---

  In almost every case the first indication of hatchling activity is a ghost crab hole over the nest. The reason for this is because the crabs are very sensitive to the vibrations coming from the sand that are produced by the hatchlings as they become active in the nest chamber. If you doubt this then the next time you walk the beach at dawn of after dusk walk barefoot, tread lightly, and look as far ahead of you as you can. You will notice fast moving grey shadows disappearing 15 to 20 feet in front of you. That's why they call them ghost crabs.

  ---

  If you find a ghost crab hole over the nest chamber do not use a trap. If the crab is in the nest then leaving him all day gives him all day to dine on our hatchlings. If the crab is not there then the hatchlings will be trapped in the nest and won't be able to get out. What you have to do is dig in with your bare hand, follow the hole to it's end, extract the crab and relocate it to a better place. If you find a dead or injured hatchling then remove it tend to its needs. Cover the hole back up with loose sand then build a small dome on the top and tap it firmly in place to discourage renewed ghost crab intrusion.

  ---

  When you want to put a trap in place to catch a ghost crab remember that it will only be successful if there is a crab in the hole. A good indication of this is when the sand around the hole is damp and darker in color. It's pointless to put a trap over a hole that is surrounded by dry sand.

  ---

  The crab won't enter the trap until he needs to leave his hole. That happens at night when he needs to go to the sea. That's why you must check the trap the next morning to see if it has been successful.

  ---

  Ghost crabs are good climbers but they can't go straight up. Place the trap in the tunnel following the angle of the tunnel. The tunnel never goes straight down.

  ---

  These crabs aren't too bright but they aren't stoopid either. If you don't firmly imbed the center tube in the hole and build the sand up around the trap then the crab will simply push it out of the way when exiting the hole.

  ---

A. Natoli
08/03/01  Rev. 09/04/07