- Trapping animals, birds and fish into confined areas is the malacha of Tzod only when they are confined to the point that you can grab them with one lunge. But if you confine them and you still can’t catch them until you first tire them out, that is ossur only d’rabbonon. (ShA 1 – MB 4)
- If you close the door on a dangerous animal, even though it is confined – you still aren’t chayav for Tzod until you cage it. (MB 4)
- If a bird flies through the window and enters the house you aren’t allowed to “trap” it by closing the window. However since it is only d’rabbonon (you still can’t catch it), you may close the window if it’s cold or to avoid some other tzaar. But if by closing the door you are trapping d’oraisa (e.g. a deer walked into a small room), you aren’t allowed to close it in – even to keep out the cold. It’s a psik raysha. (MB 5)
- Another case that is Tzod only d’rabbonon is when the animal cannot run away. (e.g. lame, sick, old). So, you can close the door on it when your intention is to keep out the cold. (ShA 2 – MB 7)
- A sleeping or blind deer is like a regular deer. Trapping them is Tzod d’oraisa. (ShA 6)
- Don’t catch a sick rabbit – it’s Tzod d’rabbonon plus muktza. (MB 9)
- Sport-hunting with dogs is ossur because of Moshav Laytzim. (Rama 2)
- There are two categories of creatures:
- “Mino nitzod” – commonly trapped. E.g. deer, pigeon, fish.
- “Ain b’mino nitzod” – not commonly trapped. E.g. flies, bees.
It is important to know that if the species is ain b’mino nitzod, it is still ossur d’rabbonon. However, you are allowed to confine such a creature into a large area that makes it impossible to catch in one lunge. (ShA 3 – MB 13,15)
- If you know there is a fly in a small box, do not close the box. It is a psik raysha that the fly will be trapped in. But if you do not know if there is a fly inside, you can close the box using the Taz’s principle of sofek psik raysha. Also muttar, is if you leave a space for the fly to escape – it isn’t a psik raysha. (Rama 3 – MB 14,16)
- Sofek psik raysha works to be lenient even when the issue is d’oraysa. So, if you do not know if a deer is in your house or not, you may close the door, not intending to trap it. Meaning, even if your doubt is regarding the situation that exists already – it is the same hetter as dovor she’ayno miskavin. (BeH “v’lochayn”)
- You may trap insects as long as they have an escape route – even if they can’t see it clearly. (MB 17)
- Don’t set a mouse trap on Shabbos. (MB 18)
- The melacha of Netillas Neshama is transgressed when making something bleed or bruise. Therefore be very careful not to hit a living creature in a way that will make it bleed or bruise. (ShA 8 – MB 30)
- Similarly, it is ossur to scratch a boil – blood will come out. Neither may you pull out a tooth. (MB 30)
- You are allowed to drain a painful pimple if you are careful not to cause it to bleed. (ShaH 49)
- Catching fish into a pail is Tzod, even if they won't die. (MB 33)
- If you are worried about the water in a fish tank turning putrid from a dying fish, you may tell a goy to take out the fish and put it immediately into another pool of water. Even though the fish is muktza – it is a shvus d’shvus b’makom hefsed. Note – to instruct the goy to put the fish out on the dry land is only one shvus and therefore ossur. (MB 33)
- Most rishonim pasken that melacha sh’ain tzreecha l’gufa is only ossur mid’rabbonon – not like the Rambam. (MB 34)
- Don’t grab an insect with your hand on Shabbos – it is Tzod. Instead, flick them away. (MB 36)
- Killing a creature in any way (bleeding, hitting, choking) is the melacha of Netillas Neshama. Don’t roll it in your fingers to weaken it, we are concerned you’ll kill it. (ShA 9 – MB 39)
- You are allowed to kill a louse. This can be done while removing lice from a person’s head. However, do not remove lice from pelts – hair will detach which is a psik raysha. (ShA 9 – MB 42)
- If you see a deadly creature (e.g. rabid dog) you can chase it and kill it. If you know they are roaming around in the area, you can search for them to kill them. (ShA 10 – MB 44, 45 – ShaH 72)
- Even though killing insects is only mid’rabbonon, you may not trample them as you walk. Also, if you are afraid they will get into your food – cover your food. (MB 48)
- Creatures that bite and sting, but don’t kill can be trapped or killed – the chachomim relaxed their issur bimkom tzaar. This applies only when they are after you or hissing (e.g. snake). (ShA 10 – MB 46, 47 – BeH “k’goen”)
- Mayruach (smearing) is ossur only when you want to spread one object upon another, not when you want the smeared object to absorb. (MB 49)
- Do not rub mucous (e.g. repulsive matter) into the ground with your foot – it levels the ground. You may walk over to it and stand upon it without rubbing it at all. Also, you are allowed to step on the mucus while you walk on your way. (Do not go out of your way.) (ShA 11 – MB 51)
- Wild animals and birds that you have tamed and frequent your house – are still ossur mid’rabbonon to enclose. If your chickens are loose and you are worried that they will get stolen you may instruct a gentile to catch them since it is a shvus d’shvus. (Rama 12 – MB 57)
- The Chayay Odom writes that such chickens that stay in your hands or sit down when you attempt to catch them – do not have an issur of Tzod at all – you can push them and chase them into their coop. (MB 57)
- Domesticated animals (e.g. cow, horse) have no prohibition of Tzod, even mid’rabbonon. Even new ones can be caught and enclosed. (MB 59)
- Any tame animal – even domesticated – that escaped, won't come home, and are defiant have an issur melacha of Tzod. Even to instruct a gentile to trap them is ossur. (Rama 12 – MB 60)
- The above also applies to new chickens and geese that are not used to your house. They stay overnight out on the water and have not yet learned to come home at night. Tzod is d’oraisa. (MB 60)
- A cat – even a tame house cat – is not categorized as domestic and is forbidden to catch on Shabbos. (Rama 12 – BeH “chaya”)
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