I am looking to place some mouse traps outdoors but am wondering what to use to keep birds and other animals out, something similar to the doc trap box but for mouse traps? Is something like this available, what do you recommend?
@adamplays You could try the D-Rat Supervisor Max, they are readily available and the shroud is part of the trap. Unlike the other D-Rat traps, this one has a clip inside the shroud that the kill bar goes into, so kids/pets can’t open it while it’s set. The lever on the side means you can see instantly whether the trap’s been sprung, and only need to open it up for reluring. Depending where you are, you may be able to borrow some from a local trap library if you want to test them out.
Supervisor MAX Rat Trap Tunnel NZ | Effective & Safe – Enviro Tools
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We have used a 20 x20 grid of double set boxed mouse traps inside our 1 . 5 ha fenced sanctuary
Worked well.
To keep birds out we had a wire across entry. Could use a more closed in end. Traps are screwed to base. Entire hood lifts off base for ease of setting. Some mouse traps last longer than others in the salt air. Pays to check they still light triggered regularly.
I am on my cell so can’t seem to easily attach a photo. Let me know if you would like one.
Slugs snails and slaters learnt quickly to remove pb.
Regards Marian
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I wouldn’t recommend for mice. Better to use mouse trap inside a custom made box. Upside down ice cream container with trap fixed to lid inside with small triangle cut in wall immediately opening onto the trap works ok. Or the custom made wooden design.
Can peg ice cream container to ground with simple wire peg skewer .
If you have the means the DOC rat trap wooden tunnel design or corflute tunnel design is just the job. Remember to make it longer if Weka present. I use the Victor Easy Set mouse traps, they don’t last forever but are effective and cheap to replace. If you are wanting to do something on a budget I have made tunnels from salvaged/reclaimed 80 mm down pipe. You will need to attach the trap to a timber glut or similar to aid retrieval and keep it in the middle of the tunnel. Check that the traps mechanism has room to work. Reclaimed spouting can also be used to make tunnels. What ever you choose ease of resetting traps is key if you are going to do lots of them.
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Could you please add a few photos?
Thanks.
Hopefully the photos I’ve uploaded show.
This shows the types of boxes and tunnels I’m using. From left, the DOC rat trap wooden tunnel, wooden bait station repurposed for mouse traps, 80 mm downpipe, electrical conduit strapped to timber batten with elastic. All made from reclaimed material apart from the mesh. DOC instructions for the wooden tunnel say use 20 mm thick timber but I’ve used 12 mm ply and it’s fine just make sure your dimensions work with the mesh. The mesh the other end hinges down on a couple of staples at the bottom rather than the saw grooves in the DOC design. A staple and nail secures the top.
The strip of wood in the 80 mm pipe needs to be thin enough to allow the kill bar to trip. Chamfering the bottom edges gives you more room. You could use strips of corflute instead of wood. I’ve sometimes screwed the orange pipe one to tree trunks off the ground.
The wire pegs either end not only secures the pipe to the ground but stops curious birds entering.
Of all these the DOC wooden tunnel is the easiest for retrieving mice and resetting.
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