How to Set a Wooden Snap Trap
Wooden snap traps have been the standard trap for mouse control since 1899. The trap is designed with a strong coil spring that controls a three sided bar, a trigger rod, and a bait pan that holds the trap in the set position. Baiting the trap is necessary as the mouse must try for the bait in order to trigger the trap. A larger version of the wooden snap trap is designed for rats and is set and operated in the same way. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Bait the trap's pan before setting the trap. Peanut butter is a proven mouse attractor. Smear a pea size dab of peanut butter on the pan.
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Hold the trap in your hand so the bait pan and the unset trap bar are away from you. Flip the trigger rod toward you so it hangs down and not on top of the trap.
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Reach over the trap and pull the trap bar back toward you and pin the bar against the wooden trap base with your thumb. The bar is now in the position for setting the trap.
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4
Lift the trigger rod up with your other hand and lay it over the trap bar. The pan has an extension on one side.
Hook the curved end of the trigger rod under the pan extension and lift the pan up. -
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Hold the trigger rod in place under the trap pan and slowly let your thumb up from the trap bar. The tension of the bar pushing up against the trigger rod will keep the trap set.
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Place the trap where mice are active.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase wooden snap traps that have the extension on the side of the pan. Some designs have a slot in the back of the pan where the tip of the trigger rod pokes in. This type of setting requires the operator to move one hand in under the trap bar.
Maneuver the trigger rod by holding it by the end where it connects to the trap. The pan can be lifted and set from this position by hooking the rod tip under it.
Hold the trap by the back edge of the wooden base when putting the trap down.
Do not place your fingers near the bait pan after the trap is set. The trigger assembly is finely set to snap at the least touch of the mouse. Jarring the trap can set it off.
References
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Comments
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ob1zenobi
Jun 18, 2010
After finding some of these ( mouse and rat sized) spring traps closed & in a different position with no catch, realized that they needed to be screwed onto a larger board in order to work more reliably. Otherwise the small amount of mass & the high torque from the closing trap was enough to fling the trap, and/or give the rodent an instant to move out of the way. Thanks for the floss tip for jerky bait. I have some cunning one(s?) who have learned how to remove peanut butter without setting off a large one.
