An animal trap includes: a bait, a support, and an elastic band, wherein in a set state the support supports the elastic band in an expanded state, and wherein removal, consumption or destruction of the bait by an animal: causes the elastic band to contract around the animal to kill the animal; or causes the elastic band to drive a kill mechanism to kill the animal. Animal traps may be formed substantially or entirely of biodegradable materials. Animal traps may be adapted for aerial distribution. A trap dispenser may dispense traps as they are triggered.

A trap has a housing including an entrance. Internally, the trap has a trigger structure including a trigger plate and a latch mechanism, coupled with the housing; and a pivoting structure pivotally coupled with the housing and adapted to releasably engage with the latch mechanism of the trigger structure. When the trap is triggered by a rodent, the pivoting structure disengages from the latch mechanism and the pivoting structure pivots towards a rear wall of the housing and the trigger plate, and the trigger plate pivots toward the pivoting structure, moving the rodent against towards the rear wall of the housing and trapping the rodent between the pivoting structure and the rear wall. Once the trap is triggered, the rodent is contained and in most cases, killed, within the trap.

An animal trap comprising a pair of complementary curved jaws rotatably mounted on a frame or base plate, and springs on the frame cooperating with a pair of opposed levers for urging the jaws toward each other from an open position to a closed or animal foot-holding restraining position. A foot pan is located on the frame between the jaws. A trigger-release assembly is employed to restrain the jaws in the open position by being engaged between the pan and jaws. When the animal steps on the pan causing it to move axially downward, the trigger-release assembly is activated causing the spring-biased levers to close the jaws about the foot of the animal.

A trigger system includes a jaw latch coupled to an inner surface of a first jaw member of a pair of jaws of a coil-spring trap, the jaw latch defining a ledge. A jaw dog includes a body portion having an elongate linear configuration and opposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including a latch flange selectively positioned on the ledge at a set configuration. A pan has a continuous peripheral edge and a cam member extending downwardly from the peripheral edge, the pan defining a planar configuration that is perfectly horizontal at the set configuration. The body portion defines a cam ridge configured to partially receive the cam member at the set configuration. The trigger system is fired when pressure is detected at any point on the pan surface.

A mouse trap including a frame, a first trapping member, a second trapping member, and actuator means for causing the first and second trapping members to move from an open position to a closed position. The first and second trapping members are pivotable such that they each pivot horizontally in an arc towards each other from the open position to the closed position. The first and second trapping members are configured to trap a mouse when the first and second trapping members are in the closed position.