Erie Residents Share Strategies for Catching Leprechauns

From sweet treats to homemade traps, locals try to nab the elusive Irish sprites this St. Patrick's Day.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:24am

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As St. Patrick's Day approaches in Erie, Pennsylvania, residents are getting creative in their attempts to catch leprechauns. Bella Fried, a college senior, suggests leaving out rainbow gummy candies as bait, while Jaclyn Clover and her family built a cardboard box trap baited with chocolate gold coins and clovers. Though their efforts were unsuccessful this year, locals remain determined to outsmart the tricky mythical creatures.

Why it matters

Catching leprechauns is a beloved St. Patrick's Day tradition in Erie, with residents going to great lengths to try to nab the elusive Irish sprites. While most attempts end in failure, the annual quest highlights the community's playful spirit and commitment to celebrating their Irish heritage.

The details

Bella Fried, a Gannon University senior, claims to have insider knowledge on leprechaun-catching techniques. She advises leaving out rainbow gummy candies as bait, setting up multiple cameras to capture evidence, and posting the footage online. Meanwhile, Jaclyn Clover and her family built a cardboard box trap, decorating it with chocolate gold coins and clovers to lure in a leprechaun. Though their trap was unsuccessful this year, they plan to try again next St. Patrick's Day.

  • St. Patrick's Day festivities in Erie typically begin the weekend before the holiday.
  • Jaclyn Clover and her family set their leprechaun trap on Monday, March 16.

The players

Bella Fried

A senior communications major at Gannon University known for her whimsical style and self-proclaimed leprechaun ancestry.

Jaclyn Clover

The Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Gannon University, who built a leprechaun trap with her family.

Miriam

Jaclyn Clover's daughter, who insisted the family needed to catch a leprechaun for St. Patrick's Day.

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What they’re saying

“As half leprechaun myself, I have the insider information you need that will catch you a leprechaun 99.99% of the time.”

— Bella Fried

“While grocery shopping at Aldi's, we grabbed a spare box, decorated it to help entice the leprechaun and lure him into our trap.”

— Jaclyn Clover, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

What’s next

Jaclyn Clover and her family plan to try catching a leprechaun again next St. Patrick's Day.

The takeaway

Though most attempts to catch leprechauns in Erie end in failure, the annual quest highlights the community's playful spirit and commitment to celebrating their Irish heritage through this beloved St. Patrick's Day tradition.