Placed on a garden pagoda this trap was use to reduce an infestation of squirrels that were raiding nests and damaging fruit trees.

Positioned on a path to provide an attractive bolt hole for rats leaving cover at the garden edge.

A ‘basic’ see-saw placed at the base of a tree.

Trap Making  Step by Step

Catches

The advantage of the Improved design is obvious in the pictures  - clear visibility.  

 

The beauty of live catch traps is that and unintended catches can be released unharmed.

Why the trap is ‘Improved’

The lid pivots to allow you to see inside while the inner mesh prevents any escapes.

 

This additional visibility is essential to identify catches and release or dispatch them humanely.

The sliding end door allows you to release non-target species quickly and easily with minimum distress.

I designed the Improved See-saw Trap to make it more practical to use.  The dimensions and mechanism are similar to the traditional one, but this design includes a release door and a removable lid with a wire mesh inner.

 

These traps were purpose built from good quality plywood making a clean and efficient modern trap.

This set caught several rats that were using the fence line as a regular run.

Successful Trapping Locations