Patent ID: 7854088

Claim:
An animal trap, comprising: an enclosure fence defining a periphery of an enclosure therein; an entry path fence defining a periphery of a narrow, elongate entry path communicating with the enclosure, the entry path having at least one entry end; an automated gate selectively closing each entry end of the entry path; and at least one double articulating trip arm disposed along the entry path, the trip arm having: a proximal arm segment free to rotate in a direction from an enclosure end of the entry path toward the at least one entry end of the entry path and restricted from rotation in a direction from the at least one entry end toward the enclosure end of the entry path; a distal arm segment free to rotate in a direction from the at least one entry end toward the enclosure end of the entry path and restricted from rotation in a direction from the enclosure end toward the at least one entry end of the entry path; and a switch mechanism activating closure of the automated gate when actuated by rotation of the proximal arm segment.