The aim of this study was to determine whether bank voles Clethrionomy
s glareolus (Schreber, 1780) could be trapped by the odour of other in
dividuals as opposed to using food as bait. A line of 100 snap traps w
as set at 2 meters interval in a forest. Odour bait was prepared of po
lyurethane foam cubes (1.5 cm3) on which few male and female bank Yole
s were kept in a 2 litre glass jar without food and water (to prevent
the transfer of food odours to the bait). Traps with even numbers were
provided with the odorous foam cubes (changed every two days) and tra
ps with odd numbers were provided with new foam. Trappings were carrie
d out in two series in autumn, the first for 14 days and the second fo
r 10 days. Fifty five bank voles (mean: 2.50 +/- 2.11 per day) were tr
apped in traps baited with odour foam and 14 (mean: 0.64 +/- 1.36 per
day) in traps without odour, the latter during the first three days of
both trapping series (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the numb
er of individuals caught on the first and second day after placing the
bait with odour.