Translation:Shulchan Aruch/Orach Chaim/316

1. When Trapping an Animal Is Forbidden on Shabbos and When It Is Permitted, 12 Seifim: 1. A person who traps a sparrow in a cabinet into which it flew, and other birds, and a deer in a house or a roofed coop and they are trapped in there, is liable. If it is not trapped in there, one is exempt, although it is forbidden.

2. One who traps a deer that is sleeping or blind is liable. If it is lame, sick or old one is exempt. RAMA: A person who sends out a dog to hunt a game animal on Shabbat - this is considered trapping Kol Bo). There are those who say that even during the week it is forbidden to do this with a dog for this is conduct befitting “a company of scoffers.” [Note: See Tehillim 1:1. As that verse indicates, this is considered as undesirable conduct. Torah Law strongly frowns upon, and according to some views, actually prohibits, hunting for the sake of sport.]

3. One is liable for trapping a species that is usually hunted, and it is Rabbinically forbidden to trap species that are not usually hunted. Therefore it is forbidden to trap flies even though they are a species that are not hunted. RAMA: Accordingly one must be careful not to shut a small box or close a Keili with flies inside on Shabbos, because it is a Pesik Reisha that they will be trapped within [Ba'al HaTerumah; Mordechai]. [Note: a pesik reisha (Lit. cutting off the head) is an action that ordinarily would be permitted but which will definitely cause as an unintended side effect an action that would be forbidden]. There are those who are lenient in circumstances where upon opening the Keili to grab them they would escape. [Tur]

4. It is permitted to spread a mat over a beehive provided that one does not intend to trap and the circumstance is such that it is not certain that they will be trapped, thereby not being a Pesik Reisha.

5. If a deer entered a house and a person bars the way, he is liable. If two people bar the way, they are exempt. If one person is incapable of barring the way and two people bar the way they are both liable. RAMA: If the door is already shut it is permitted to lock it. [R"an; the Maggid]

6. If a person is filling the doorway, another person is permitted to sit beside him, even if eventually the first person gets up and leaves; the second person is not liable, rather he is permitted to do so; however the first person is liable.

7. Trapping snakes and scorpions on Shabbos or any other dangerous creatures: if for medicinal purposes – one is liable; if to protect oneself so as not to get bitten – it is permitted.

8. Regarding the Eight Sheratzim mentioned in the Torah {a rat, a mouse, a Tzov, a ferret, hedgehog, chameleon, lizard, snail and mole}, one who captures or bruises them is liable even though they did not bleed externally and the blood only accumulated beneath the skin. With regard to other reptiles, one is liable for beating them, only if there was external bleeding. One who captures them for a purpose is liable and one who captures them for no purpose or for no specific reason is exempt but forbidden to do so. The Rambam holds that one is liable.

9. A flea, which is called a Bargut in Arabic, may not be captured unless it is on one’s body and is biting, however, it may not be killed. RAMA: Furthermore, he should not squash it between his fingers for fear that he might kill it. Rather he should take it with one’s hand and throw it away. [R' Yerucham] Lice however may be exterminated. When cleansing one’s clothes from lice he must take care not to kill them, rather he may squash them and throw them away. When cleansing his head he is permitted to kill them.

10. Any animal or reptile whose bite is definitely deadly may be killed on Shabbos even if they are not chasing anyone. Other harmful animals, such as a snake or scorpion, in an area where they are not deadly, if they are chasing someone they may be exterminated and if not it is forbidden. However one is permitted to squash them in a mindless fashion, even when intending to do so, provided that one exhibits that one is not doing it intentionally.

11. One is forbidden to rub saliva 24) on the ground with his foot because he is smoothing the crevices. However one may step on it in a mindless fashion as his intention is not to smooth the crevices and even though it will happen, it is nevertheless permitted because it is repulsive.

12. Domesticated animals and fowl may be trapped provided they do not resist, for if they resist they are forbidden to be trapped even in a yard, when the yard’s measurements are such that had the animals not been raised among humans one would have needed a trap to catch them. RAMA: Some authorities are of the opinion that one is forbidden to trap domesticated animals and fowl, yet if one trapped them he is exempt [Hagahos Alfasi]. If however a cow or horse and all the more so other wild animals and fowl that resist capture, one who traps them is liable to bring a Chatat sacrifice. This is the main opinion to follow [HaMagid]. A cat is in the same category as other wild animals and may not be trapped on Shabbos. [Hagahos Alfasi]