Patent ID: 6910299

Claim:
A trap comprising: first and second co-acting jaws for pivotally engaging a member of a captured animal, wherein the first and second jaws are configured for pivotal displacement between an opened position and a closed position; at least one lever for contacting the first and second jaws, and loaded with a biasing force for loading the first and second jaws into the closed position, wherein the at least one lever experiences torsional deformation when loaded; a retaining arrangement for retaining the first jaw in the opened position, wherein the retaining arrangement releases the loaded first and second jaws from the at least one lever upon actuation; a leveling structure, incorporated onto the at least one lever, for providing a raised contact surface for one of the first and second jaws so as to accommodate the torsional deformation of the at least one lever and thereby provide level alignment of the respective first and second jaws.