That explains why our traps aren't effective - perpendicular is the word!
But what about this: how are these mice able to lick off the peanut butter
from the traps (wooden kind) without setting off the trigger?!?
A quick google search tells me that this is a common problem. What's
happening?
Thanks - love this page and the videos are great!
Mouse Traps
Summary: As in most things, there is an art in setting the simple mouse trap. It's true! You cannot expect to catch a mouse if you do not understand the basics.
The classic mouse trap, known as the Victor snap trap is made up of a rectangular piece of pine, a coil spring with a u-shaped bar (the “killing” bar) and a small, flat piece of metal called the "trigger" plate. The “killing” bar is pulled back and secured in place in place by a small rod that rests on the trigger plate. Any disturbance to the trigger plate instantly releases the holding rod and the “killing” bar snaps with a resounding crack. None of this happens, of course, unless the trap is placed properly.
Mice have
The next trick is placing the snap trap perpendicular to the wall, not parallel. For those of you who flunked geometry that means place the trap so that it makes a “T” when it is sitting along the wall. Place the trap so the trigger is closest to the wall.
If you place the trap long-wise against the wall you have reduced the trap's effectiveness by fifty-percent. You want the trigger to be accessible from either direction. If the trap is placed long-wise with, for example, the trigger to the right, a rodent approaching from the left will encounter the trap on the side without the trigger. Should the trap be bumped by the rodent, it will go off harmlessly and that rodent will forever remember to avoid anything that resembles that trap.
Comments
Julie
01 Oct 2009, 09:53
01 Oct 2009, 09:53