Animal trap composite bait material and methods of use

Improved animal bait composite materials comprising an animal attractant substance component attractive to a selected animal and a hardening substance component, and methods of use of such bait composite materials are described. The bait composite materials disclosed having improved adhesion and interlocking properties when hardened after application to a trigger of an animal trap in a flowable state, resulting in more reliably transferring forces applied by the bite or other contact of a selected animal to the trigger to actuate the trap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to baits for attracting selected animals 
to animal traps for capture in trapping to control selected animal 
populations. More particularly, the invention concerns a composite bait 
material attractive to a selected animal which is applied to a trap 
actuating trigger, and which is intended to adhere thereto. 
2. Description of Related Art 
The need for controlling certain animal populations, for example, rodents, 
in areas used by humans or livestock, or in the locale of stored food, has 
been recognized for centuries. In the case of rats and mice, serious 
health issues surround the proximity of these animals and humans and 
livestock due to infectious agents borne by the animals and the parasites 
infesting them. The long history of attempts at control of selected animal 
populations and the many poisons and varieties of traps invented for this 
purpose attest to the concern felt by humans and the effort allocated to 
solving this problem. 
Poisoning may be the most common method of animal population control, but 
it has several disadvantages, particularly in a household setting, 
although also in agricultural or commercial applications. Poisons placed 
for consumption by mice or rats, for example, may be consumed by other 
animals including household pets, causing their unintended illness or 
death. In a similar way, mice or rats that consume poison may, after 
death, be eaten by other animals or pets, again causing illness or death 
due to ingestion of the poisoned mouse or rat. 
Use of poisons, in addition to potential harm to animals not selected for 
control, has the additional significant disadvantage of being hazardous to 
humans. Particularly, small children are at a risk as they may play with, 
absorb or consume poison left for mice and rats. 
A third disadvantage with the use of poison is the unpleasant odor 
resulting after a mouse or rat, for example, has been successfully 
poisoned. It is most common that the poisoned mouse or rat will die in a 
confined location, such as within the walls of a home or in the attic 
space. In such situations, it is usually impractical to locate and remove 
the dead animal. As a result, odor associated with decay may last for many 
days, making living within such a home very unpleasant. 
In addition to poisons a variety of mechanical traps are currently employed 
in animal population control. The most common for use in trapping rodents 
is the spring operated version which, when triggered, causes a stiff metal 
wire to strike and kill the mouse or rat. 
A second type of trap which has become popular in the past several years is 
the "sticky trap", consisting of a flat tray containing a jelly like 
plastic material whose surface remains very tacky or sticky. With this 
type of trap, the mouse or rat adheres to the surface when it walks on to 
the trap. This trap has the disadvantage that it does not quickly kill the 
mouse or rat, leaving this unpleasant task to be addressed by the user and 
causing the animal caught in the trap to remain in that condition for the 
period of time until the trap is detected. 
Because of the disadvantages of poisons and sticky traps, mechanical traps 
of the spring loaded variety are widely used. With these traps, it is 
necessary to bait the trigger with something that will attract the mouse 
or rat. 
One of the difficulties encountered in such trapping is removal of the bait 
from the trap by an animal without actuating the trigger of the trap, 
thereby rendering the trap ineffectual. This "stealing" of the bait by the 
animal can be a significant factor lessening the success of population 
control efforts. 
For example, cheese has been commonly thought to be a food substance 
attractive to rodents, and appears to be in common use for this purpose 
today. However, it is known that cheese, while it may initially adhere to 
a trigger of a trap, rapidly dries and in so doing contracts and exudes 
oily substances, impairing adhesion, and making stealing of the bait 
without actuation of the trap trigger more likely. 
It has been recognized by those skilled in the art that there are much more 
effective food substances than cheese to attract rodents, for example 
grains, and other seeds and nut-fruit of a variety of plants. However, 
getting such substances to adhere to a trap trigger is problematic. One 
approach has been to use peanut butter. This adheres well initially, but 
is so soft that forces applied to the peanut butter by the chewing rodent, 
which otherwise may actuate the trigger, are not transferred thereto. As 
peanut butter becomes harder, it tends to transfer chewing forces better, 
but it also tends to contract and exude oils which can considerably lessen 
the adhesion of this bait substance to the trigger of a trap. Again, this 
may result in diminished success in trap triggering and hence less success 
in animal population control. 
In selecting a bait for the trigger of mechanical traps, several factors 
are important. First, the bait must be something that will attract the 
mouse or rat. Next, the bait must be able to be attached securely to the 
trigger so that it cannot be removed without triggering the trap. Next, 
the bait must be rather solid so that it cannot be eaten without 
triggering the trap. 
Substances that are known to attract mice and rats include meat and fish, 
some vegetables and legumes (such as alfalfa) in addition to the grains, 
nuts and seeds mentioned. As previously noted, many people use cheese. 
The triggers on mechanical traps for rodents have various configurations 
depending on the manufacturer. Some have an opening to accept and contain 
the bait. Others have a blade shape for penetration of the bait. These 
configurations are generally not very successful when attaching hard baits 
such as grains or nuts. Also, they do not successfully retain softer 
baits, thus allowing the easy stealing of baits such as meats, cheese or 
peanut butter. 
Another consideration in trapping to control a population of a selected 
animal is the ease of baiting the trap and convenient handling of baited 
trap. Frequently, in attempting to control an animal population with 
mechanical traps many traps must be set. It is important in such 
circumstances, that a reliable method of baiting the traps without being 
unduly difficult or time-consuming be used. Furthermore, it may be most 
convenient to bait all traps to be set at one time in one location, then 
distribute the baited traps to the various desired locations and then set 
them. if this latter procedure is adopted, great care must be taken not to 
detach the bait when moving a baited trap to its new location to be set. 
Bait knocked off the trigger during transport must be replaced, and this, 
of course, is very inconvenient. 
These examples illustrate the difficulties encountered in baiting traps to 
attract a selected animal and also minimize the occurrence of bait 
stealing. In light of the forgoing, it has been recognized that the 
desirable attributes of mechanical animal trap bait includes easy 
application to the trigger, and reliable and secure retention by an 
adhesion to the trigger of a trap, as well as stiffness to transfer forces 
from bites taken and other contact by an animal to the trigger for 
reliable trap actuation. Also, to increase trapping success, the most 
attractive substances to a selected animal to be trapped theoretically 
should be incorporated in the bait, even though they do not of themselves 
offer adhesive properties or other properties useful in addressing the 
aforementioned problems. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a bait substance of increased 
effectiveness will be easy to apply to a trap trigger, strongly attract 
the selected animal reliably transfer forces to the trigger of a trap and 
also be securely retained thereby and adhere thereto, to prevent bait 
stealing, without loss of its animal attractant function. The present 
invention addresses these concerns. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides an improved 
animal trap composite bait material including an animal attractant food 
substance and a hardening substance. The animal attractant is chosen based 
upon the particular application (animal species desired to be trapped). 
The hardening substance is selected so as to assume a solid state in the 
environment at which the trap is to be located. More particularly, the 
temperature range and humidity to be encountered at the location of a trap 
with which the composite bait material is to be used may affect the 
hardening substance chosen for a particular application. The hardening 
substance then acts as a matrix to support and bind together dispersed 
attractive food substance, as well as attach a mass of such attractive 
food substance to said trigger. 
The composite bait material is flowable when applied to a trigger of a 
trap, so as to flow into and around the geometry of the trigger. After a 
short time the hardening substance transforms to a solid and the composite 
bait material adheres to, and mechanically interlocks with, the trigger to 
provide improved force transfer from an animal biting the hardened bait to 
the trigger and decrease the likelihood of bait stealing by an animal. 
In a more detailed aspect, a composite bait material of the invention may 
be made to transition from a flowable to a hardened state in a number of 
ways. For example, the composite may include a hardening substance which 
can be heated to transform it to a liquid phase, making the composite bait 
material flowable, then harden as it cools back to ambient temperature. 
In a further more detailed aspect, hardening substances that change from a 
liquid to solid state due to the evaporation of a solvent contained 
therein or colloidal fluid in which an adhesive is suspended may be used. 
Likewise substances which react chemically with moisture or some other 
component in the environment of the trap to harden could be used, as well 
as substances that cure after mixing two or more substances by some 
manipulation, for example, those that are mixed just prior to the time the 
bait is applied to the trigger, such as epoxy and hydrating cements. 
In another more narrow aspect, the attractant substance may conveniently 
comprise a milled food substance favored by the selected animal to be 
trapped, for example particles of nuts and grains or other seeds in the 
case of rodents. Such a substance interacts with the hardening substance 
to be flowable when the hardening substance is in a liquid state, and 
thereafter form a hardened mass after the composite bait material is 
applied to the trigger and the hardening substance changes to a solid 
state, giving the desired stiffness and adhesion properties to interlock 
with, and firmly adhere to said trigger. 
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from 
the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features 
of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, which are provided for purposes of 
exemplary illustration, the invention in one embodiment comprises a candle 
10 which is formed of a composite bait material of an attractant food 
substance in particulate form and a hardening substance acting as a 
binder, which is a solid at ambient temperature, but which liquifies when 
the candle is lit. The composite bait material is applied to a trigger 12 
of a trap 14 by lighting the candle, and allowing the melted and now 
liquified composite bait material 16 to drip onto the trigger. The 
composite bait material flows around and conforms to the shape and 
irregularities of the trigger and subsequently hardens, forming a mass of 
composite bait material 18 adhering to, and interlocking with, the 
geometry of the trigger 12. 
A piece of paper 20 may be placed underneath the trigger 12 to catch any 
excess composite bait material that does not adhere to the trigger. The 
paper is removed after the composite bait material 18 has been applied to 
the trap 14. A coated or "glossy" paper or wax paper has been found to 
work well for this purpose. 
The trap is then set, for example in the illustrated embodiment by 
conventionally folding back a spring-loaded U-shaped wire 22, and 
thereafter interlocking a retaining wire 24 and the trigger 12 to hold the 
spring-loaded U-shaped wire in place. When the trigger is moved, such 
movement releases the retaining wire and allows the U-shaped wire to snap 
back to the original position as is well known is the art. 
It is preferable that this triggering of the trap 14 be done by an animal 
sought to be caught, and not the human user, hence the composite bait 
material 18 is applied prior to setting the trap. Depending on the 
sensitivity of the trigger 12, it may, however, be possible to freshen the 
bait of a previously set trap without releasing the spring loaded U-shaped 
wire 22 when employing the composite bait material of the invention in 
this embodiment. Because the composite bait material is merely dripped 
upon the trigger, additional bait may be applied to a previously baited 
and set trap, without contact with the trigger by the user. A paper 20 may 
be gently placed under the trigger without touching it and the candle of 
composite bait material placed above the trigger, beyond the reach of the 
spring-loaded wire 22. After sufficient liquified composite bait material 
16 is dripped onto the trigger 12, the paper (with any excess composite 
bait material thereon) is removed, completing the freshening of the bait. 
According to the invention, the candle 10 is formed of composite bait 
material. The composite bait material is a mixture of a hardening 
substance which acts as a binder, and an animal attractant substance in 
particulate form. The hardening substance in the illustrated embodiment is 
a paraffin, carbowax, tallow, candelilla, ceresin, beeswax, or other 
natural or synthetic wax or wax-like substance that can be used 
conventionally in making candles. In the illustrated embodiment the trap 
14 is of the type conventionally used when the selected animal to be 
attracted is a rodent, such as a rat or mouse. 
The attractant food substance in the illustrated embodiment directed to 
rodents is one of the many favored by rodents, such as a nut-fruit or the 
like, ground, milled, or otherwise processed into a particulate, the 
particles being of small enough size to make the composite bait material 
flowable when the hardening substance melts into a liquid due to 
application of heat. Smaller particles remain suspended in the liquid 
hardening substance while larger particles tend to separate out. The use 
of smaller particles simplifies fabrication of a candle of composite bait 
material. For example, less frequent stirring of a hot liquid composite 
bait material is required when smaller particles are used. Additionally, 
in this embodiment the larger particles tend to char and burn when the 
candle is lit. It has been found that use of smaller particles reduces 
this charring problem, and so larger particles are less desirable in light 
of these considerations. 
If larger particles tending to settle out of suspension are used, the 
aforementioned problems can be mitigated by using a casting method wherein 
the candle of this embodiment is cast on its side, as opposed to other 
fabrication methods involving a vertical orientation. In such a method, 
the longitudinal axis of the candle is oriented horizontally, and 
settlement of larger attractant particles during casting will result in a 
uniform dispersion of particles along the entire length of such a candle. 
The particles will be located in a longitudinal area located near the side 
of the candle that was oriented downward during casting. Without such an 
orientation, heavy settling particles could be concentrated at one end of 
a vertically cast candle for example. The longitudinal disposition of the 
attractant particles gives uniform bait consistency along the length of 
the candle of this embodiment and provides some separation from the wick, 
helping to minimize charring. 
The longitudinal disposition of heavier particles separating from 
suspension will have analogous applications in other embodiments where an 
elongated bait compound configurations will be used, including those 
described below. 
The attractant food particles can be formed of various substances. Nuts 
have been found to be very effective. Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, 
pecans, peanuts, and cashews, for example, might be used. As an 
alternative, peanut butter can be used. Also, particles of ground or 
milled grains, legumes, tuberous plants, or seeds, for example sunflower 
seeds, canary grass seeds, dried peas, dried beans, sweet potatoes, wheat, 
corn, barley or oats may alternatively be used. Other embodiments include 
dried and ground alfalfa, chocolate, lentils and coconut, fish or animal 
meat, as well as mixtures of various portions of nuts, grains, legumes, 
seeds, and these other substances, for example. 
Selection of the attractant substance is largely a factor of cost and the 
particular preferences of the selected animal desired to be trapped. 
Milled nuts work well in paraffin as the nut oils readily mix and blend 
with the paraffin. 
As an alternative to food substances, in another embodiment substances 
having scents attractive to the selected animal may be employed. For 
example, a substance smelling like peanuts could be substituted for 
peanuts. However, it is preferable to have a substance in the composite 
bait material that the selected animal, such as a rodent in the 
illustrated embodiment, will bite repeatedly so as to more reliably trip 
the trigger 12 of the trap 14. It has been found that a particulate form 
of a food substance works well for this purpose in this embodiment, though 
in other embodiments where the binder is edible a scent may be all that is 
required to attract the selected animal. 
The candle 10 of composite bait material can be made conventionally, for 
example by a conventional molding, extruding or dipping process (not 
shown). Particles of the attractant food substance are added to the 
hardening substance heated so as to be in liquid form, such as heated wax. 
After mixing, a suspension of the attractant substance in the wax results. 
The particles of attractant food substance, if significantly different in 
density than the liquid wax or other solidifying substance, will tend to 
separate out of suspension over time. As can be appreciated, a mixture of 
the liquid solidifying substance and the particulate animal attractant 
food substance may require further mixing or agitation prior to and during 
the fabrication of the candle 10. As mentioned, the amount and timing of 
such further mixing depends on the particle size of the attractive food 
substance, as well as the relative densities of the liquid wax binder or 
other solidifying substance and the animal attractive substance. After 
mixing the hardening substance cools and solidifies as the composite bait 
material is formed into the desired shape in accordance with conventional 
candle making methods. 
In use, the candle is lit and placed over the trigger while liquified 
composite bait material drips down thereon. After the hardening substance 
is cooled the particles of food substance are bound together and firmly 
attached to the trigger 12. It has been found that a "hard" paraffin 
having a melting point in excess of about 160.degree. fahrenheit (as 
opposed to "soft" paraffins melting in the 120.degree. to 140.degree. 
range) works well in the illustrated embodiment. As the hardening 
substance solidifies sooner, it is easier to build up a mass of bait 
material on the trigger 12 in a shorter time using materials with a higher 
melting point. 
It has also been found that a paraffin wax binder has a preservative effect 
allowing the bait material to be effective for a longer period, and this 
property is advantageous as it allows a longer period of time between 
freshening bait; this reduces the effort required in maintaining a trap or 
a number of traps in a good condition to catch animals. However, in this 
and all other embodiments discussed herein, the composite bait material 
should be stored in an air-tight container, such as a plastic bag (not 
shown) prior to use to maximize freshness. 
Alternative to a candle 10 to drip composite bait material onto a trigger 
12 of a trap 14, FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment, where a small 
button candle 30 is placed upon the trigger 12 of a trap 14 and lit. Its 
purpose is to melt and reform onto the trigger as a mass of composite bait 
material included with and adhering to the trigger. The composition of the 
composite bait material from which the candle is formed is identical to 
that described above. However, in this embodiment it is necessary to 
disable the trap prior to rebating with another button candle as the 
candle is placed upon the trigger, disturbing it. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, in another embodiment a cylinder 32 of composite 
bait material is formed conventionally, for example by a molding or 
extruding process. Heat is applied to the cylinder, for example by a 
butane cigarette lighter (not shown), a hot air gun (not shown), a propane 
torch (not shown) or other heat source. As shown in FIG. 4, a hot iron 34 
may be used, and liquified composite bait material is dripped onto a 
trigger 12 as described above to bait a trap 14. Other types of hot irons, 
such as soldering irons (not shown) could be used instead of the type 
illustrated. 
In a further embodiment, the cylinder 32 of composite bait material may be 
formed using another hardening substance for a binder material, such as a 
thermoplastic polymeric resin for example. Materials of this type are in 
common use in "hot glue guns" and a composite bait material as described 
above using such a polymer binder could be formed into a cylinder 32 
adapted to fit in such a hot glue gun. High temperature waxes and 
paraffins could also be used, for example. As shown in FIG. 5, a 
conventional hot glue gun 36 could be used to apply liquid composite bait 
material 38 to the trigger 12 of a trap 14 for controlling rodent 
populations, for example. As with the use of a hot iron 34 mentioned 
above, the use of a hot glue gun 36 does not involve an open flame, which 
may be advantageous in situations where a risk of fire or explosion (such 
as controlling rodents in a grain elevator facility) is presented. 
However, since electricity is required for conventional hot glue gun 36 
operation, traps 14 may have to be baited at a location near a power 
source and then transported to the respective locations where they are to 
be placed and then set. Since the composite bait material 38 adheres to 
the trigger 12 this is not any more inconvenient than transporting the 
traps unbaited. This is true of all the embodiments described herein, the 
composite bait material of the invention makes baiting a number of traps 
at a single location possible, without setting them, and thereafter 
distributing them to desired locations and setting them at those 
locations. The later operation of distributing and setting the traps can 
be a considerable time after the baiting operation, is an advantage of the 
bait compound of the described embodiment of the invention is that is has 
been found to be effective for many weeks, even months after application 
to a trap. 
Other types of hardening substances could be used as a binder in the 
composite bait material besides those dependent on temperature discussed 
above. For example, a binder incorporating a solvent which evaporates in 
the ambient conditions in the location in which the trap 14 is to be used 
could be employed, the composite bait material hardening as the solvent 
evaporates. In this regard water soluble binder substances may be used. 
Also, colloidal suspensions of adhesive materials could be used as a 
hardening substance, hardening as the substance drys. These binder 
materials include such solute substances as: soluble silicates; natural 
and synthetic rubbers and elastomers; natural and synthetic gums and 
resins, including gum arabic and other soluble polymers; glucose and 
mucilage; Zinc Stearate; asphalts; and pitches. Colloidal materials 
include: emulsions of polymers, including latexes; animal and fish derived 
glues, including casein and blood glues; and vegetable derived glues, such 
as soybean starch cellulosics. Many common household glues and library 
pastes are suitable, provided they can be thinned or thickened as needed 
and that they remain amorphous during drying so that the effects of any 
shrinkage due to evaporation of the solvent in the first case or the fluid 
in which the colloid is originally suspended in the second will be 
mitigated and the composite bait material will not pull away from the 
trigger as it dries. 
Referring to FIG. 6, i.e. a composite bait material 42 using such a binder 
could be pre-mixed and stored in sealed re-sealable containers 44 for use, 
such as squeezable tube containers having a cap 46, or wide-mouth 
containers (not shown) from which the composite bait material can be 
dispensed by use of a spatula (not shown) for example. Alternatively, 
referring to FIG. 7, the attractant food substance and the solute binder 
could be stored in a dry powder form 50 and the composite bait material 
prepared as needed by addition of an appropriate amount of solvent 54 (for 
example water), or other liquid in which colloids can be suspended, to an 
appropriate amount of dry powered binder and attractant substance. In 
either case a preservative may be required to keep the animal attractant 
substance fresh. 
Alternatively, hardening substances 50 which harden by means of a chemical 
change could be used, such substances being usually characterized by the 
mixing of two or more substances 54, 50 to make use of a chemical 
interaction between them, or one or more constituent parts of each of 
them. Since the hardening of such substances occurs upon mixing, at least 
two separate components of such a hardening substance must be separately 
stored prior to use. Of course the animal attractant food substance could 
be combined with one or the other component of the hardening substance 
depending on compatibility over the anticipated storage time. 
Examples of such hardening substances 50 include two-part epoxies, which 
harden after using, as well as a number of cementenous materials, 
including those that harden after or by means of a hydrolization or 
hydration process. More specifically, an example of such a cementenous 
material is a flour of a substance high in starch, such as wheat flour or 
other flours made from the cereal grains, rice, oats, and the like, in 
combination with salt. This, with the addition of water 54 can form a 
hardening substance. If necessary, additional starch material from other 
sources (not shown) could be added. In another example, the dry components 
of common library paste are mixed with a dry particulate food substance to 
form a dry mixture 50 which can be measured out as required, for example 
being poured upon a sheet of cardboard 52. A measured amount of water 54 
is then added from a water dispenser 56. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, after 
mixing the dry mixture 50 with the added water 54 a flowable paste 58 is 
formed which is then applied to the trigger 12 of a trap 14 to be set, for 
example by use of a small spatula 60. 
Additional hardening substances of this type include portland cement, 
phosphate cement, mortar, plaster, or gypsum in combination with water. 
Also, a combination of flour and salt, when mixed with vegetable oil, sets 
up to form a hardened cementenous material after mixing. 
Referring again to FIG. 6, another type of hardening substance that could 
be used in the composite bait material 42 is one of the class of materials 
that interact chemically with one or more atmospheric components such as 
water. For example, polymers which cross-link when exposed to water in the 
air, such as cyanoacrylates, could be employed. As will be appreciated, 
compounds of attractive food substances and such hardening substances may 
require storage in a sealed container 44, 46 after their preparation, and 
inhibitors, such as are well known for these materials, can be added to 
prolong their shelf life. Some may further require that the amount of air 
within the sealed container be kept at a minimum, indicating use of a 
squeeze dispensing tube for this purpose. 
From the forgoing it will be appreciated that the composite bait material 
and method of use of the present invention allows improved control of 
selected animal populations by trapping. Improved adhesion and/or 
interlocking with a trap trigger 12 by a mass 18 of composite bait 
material lessens the incidence of bait stealing, and, combined with the 
stiffness of the hardened bait mass, more effectively transfers forces 
arising from biting, chewing or other contact by a selected animal to the 
trigger for better actuation of the trap 14 and increased success in 
trapping. Moreover, as traps baited with a composite bait material 
according to the present invention need freshening less often, and can be 
more readily transported without disengagement or deformation of a mass of 
bait on a trigger than conventional bait composite materials, the 
composite bait compound of the invention allows more convenient trapping 
of selected animals. 
While several particular forms of the invention have been described, it 
will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the invention.