An apparatus for controlling animal pests comprises a housing having a passage extending into the housing from an entrance, an impacting member movable across the passage and a planar sensor spaced apart from the kill bar by a predetermined distance along the passage towards the entrance, the planar sensor configured to sense the presence of the animal pest across a sensing plane across the passage wherein the impacting member is operable to be released to rapidly move across the passage when the planar sensor indicates the presence of the animal pest as passed through the sensing plane.

A mouse trap has a trigger with a socket and has a latch having a spherical enlargement at its distal end. The spherical enlargement engages the socket of the trigger to form a ball and socket structure when the mouse trap is armed.

A mouse trap has a trigger with a socket and has a latch having a spherical enlargement at its distal end. The spherical enlargement engages the socket of the trigger to form a ball and socket structure when the mouse trap is armed.

A strike trap is disclosed with improved reliability and ease of setting. In a preferred configuration the improved trap is in the form of a tunnel or tube trap. In a preferred embodiment the strike bar moves upward from a low position to strike against an interior wall or equivalent structure of the tube. The strike bar is set by pressing it downward to become automatically latched near a floor or bottom of the tube. With the downward set action a single hand or foot can provide the set motion wherein the ground or other support surface exclusively provides a reaction force. A two stage retention system provides reliable low force, low travel trip action. The strike bar therefore can pivot adjacent to a wall with the bar extending away there from. This compact arrangement ensures the tube entrances in the tube embodiment are adjacent to the wall.

A strike trap is disclosed with improved reliability and ease of setting. In a preferred configuration the improved trap is in the form of a tunnel or tube trap. In a preferred embodiment the strike bar moves upward from a low position to strike against an interior wall or equivalent structure of the tube. The strike bar is set by pressing it downward to become automatically latched near a floor or bottom of the tube. With the downward set action a single hand or foot can provide the set motion wherein the ground or other support surface exclusively provides a reaction force. A two stage retention system provides reliable low force, low travel trip action. The strike bar therefore can pivot adjacent to a wall with the bar extending away there from. This compact arrangement ensures the tube entrances in the tube embodiment are adjacent to the wall.

Pest-management apparatuses and related methods. At least some of the present pest-management apparatuses comprise: a base, a lid coupled to the base such that the lid is movable between open and closed positions, where the base and lid define a chamber when the lid is in the closed position; a pest-capture device disposable within the chamber and having a capture element that is movable between set and capture positions; and an elongated indicator configured to extend through an opening in the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

Pest-management apparatuses and related methods. At least some of the present pest-management apparatuses comprise: a base, a lid coupled to the base such that the lid is movable between open and closed positions, where the base and lid define a chamber when the lid is in the closed position; a pest-capture device disposable within the chamber and having a capture element that is movable between set and capture positions; and an elongated indicator configured to extend through an opening in the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

A rodent trap is disclosed comprising a base and a kill bar, wherein the kill bar is pivotably connected to the base, a trigger member pivotably connected to the base and arranged between the base and the kill bar such that when the trigger member is activated the kill bar is released and traps or kills a rodent, the rodent trap further comprises a sensor configured to detect at least three different distances between the trigger member and the base. A rodent trap system is disclosed and a related method for determining a ready state, a sprung empty state and a caught state of a rodent trap.

A rodent trap is disclosed comprising a base and a kill bar, wherein the kill bar is pivotably connected to the base, a trigger member pivotably connected to the base and arranged between the base and the kill bar such that when the trigger member is activated the kill bar is released and traps or kills a rodent, the rodent trap further comprises a sensor configured to detect at least three different distances between the trigger member and the base. A rodent trap system is disclosed and a related method for determining a ready state, a sprung empty state and a caught state of a rodent trap.

Disclosed is a method of incapacitating a target pest species. The method having the steps of providing a trap enclosure, the trap enclosure having an entry point for the target pest species into an interior of the trap enclosure, and a bait station to attract the target pest species. Provided also is a kill engine, at least in part mounted from the trap enclosure, to at least in part deliver incapacitating energy to the target species, whereby the kill engine does not require electricity, the kill engine using an inflammable gas charge, the kill engine when triggered actuates and then resets itself. A source of compressed inflammable gas is connected to and supplies the kill engine. Present is a species adapter connected at least in part to the trap enclosure to adapt the trap enclosure to the target pest species, the species adapter based on the size, habits or travel, nature of the target pest species. A kill zone is defined within an interior of the trap enclosure and or the species adapter. A trigger mechanism actuates the kill engine when triggered by the target pest species when in the kill zone. A force delivery hammer, driven by the kill engine, delivers the incapacitating energy, such that when the target pest species enters the apparatus and the kill zone it triggers the trigger mechanism to in turn actuate the kill engine to deliver the incapacitating energy by impacting the pest.