The present improved animal trap and unique catch release mechanism eliminates substantial eating or removal of the bait without the trap activating and provides a dual means to activate the trap. This is accomplished by the present catch release mechanism having a sliding member which slides within a hole through the platform of the trap under the influence of gravity and a prop which holds at least a portion of the trap platform above a support surface. When the prop is destabilized by an external force, the prop's support of the platform is disturbed, permitting the platform to fall toward the support surface. The platform falls relative to the sliding member; and the sliding member is forced toward the catch by contact with the support surface, thus pushing the catch so that the catch releases the holding arm bar to activate the trap.

An improved rodent trap having a base, hammer bar, hold down bar, spring for the hammer bar, a latch member for the hold down bar and a bait member for holding the bait thereon just as a conventional rodent trap, and, also containing a glue area on either end of the trap wherein the platform has a cut-out area or receptacle area therein so that glue can be placed throughout the area of the base so that if a rodent comes near the trap he will either be killed by the hammer bar in a conventional manner or caught in the glue area. An optional string, which may contain disinfectant, may also be attached to the platform and used to pick-up the trap.

Disclosed are various embodiments for a trap monitor. The trap monitor can detect when a trap is triggered using a magnetic interlock attached to the trap and a magnetic flux sensor. The trap monitors may forward trap events and other information to a central hub for communication to a server. The trap monitors and hub can be configured using infrared transmissions from a mobile device.

A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.

A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.

Disclosed herein is a non-spring based lock mechanism, described as a lock and lever, telescoping slide assembly comprising an elongated, stationary, multi-faceted tube. Also disclosed is a snaring tool employing the non spring based lock mechanism for gripping items such as industrial pipe and other large moving items which can be ensnared. An optional locking pin mechanism can be added to the lock and lever slide assembly to avoid accidental release of the gripping means.

Briefly, embodiments of a cover for use with a trap, such as a burrowing rodent trap, may comprise a coupling to attach to a movable element of a burrowing rodent trap, an indicator to indicate a state of the burrowing rodent trap, and a housing to cover a hole into which the burrowing rodent trap is disposed, the indicator to be movable with respect to the housing.

Animal-killing apparatus, which comprises: a housing, an entry tunnel, through which an animal can enter said apparatus, a spring a spring-actuated striker.

An actuation mechanism, comprising an actuator plate, a connecting lever. Said actuator plate comprises a retention hook through which it is releasably connected to a recess provided in the connecting lever.

Said connecting lever comprises a first connecting lever cam, and the striker comprises a first striker cam, cooperating with said first connecting lever cam for releasably holding the striker in a loaded position.

The animal-killing apparatus comprises an automatic loading mechanism which comprises a motor, said motor is connected to a threaded rod, on which threaded rod there is arranged a displaceable slider comprising a thread engaged with the threaded rod, a sensor device for detection of the position of the striker and the displaceable slider, a power source connected to a controller, which controller receives signals from the sensor device and controls said motor.

Animal-killing apparatus, which comprises: a housing, an entry tunnel, through which an animal can enter said apparatus, a spring a spring-actuated striker.

An actuation mechanism, comprising an actuator plate, a connecting lever. Said actuator plate comprises a retention hook through which it is releasably connected to a recess provided in the connecting lever.

Said connecting lever comprises a first connecting lever cam, and the striker comprises a first striker cam, cooperating with said first connecting lever cam for releasably holding the striker in a loaded position.

The animal-killing apparatus comprises an automatic loading mechanism which comprises a motor, said motor is connected to a threaded rod, on which threaded rod there is arranged a displaceable slider comprising a thread engaged with the threaded rod, a sensor device for detection of the position of the striker and the displaceable slider, a power source connected to a controller, which controller receives signals from the sensor device and controls said motor.

Embodiments of a rodent trap bait cage, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. The bait cage may comprise a barrier portion and a mounting portion. The barrier portion may define a bait cavity therein and include a multiplicity of bait access apertures extending between the bait cavity and an ambient environment. The bait cage may be mountable to a treadle plate of a rodent trap by way of the mounting portion. The mounting portion may include a bait pin detent portion. The barrier portion may include a roof disposed oppositely of the mounting portion. A bait pin aperture may be defined between the roof and the bait pin detent portion and configured to receive a bait pin of the treadle plate to secure the mounting. The bait pin detent portion may have a ramped surface to facilitate wedging of the bait pin detent portion under the bait pin.