Deb Rebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>So. I think everyone would do better to just work on their sneaking
>techniques so they can sneak up to their loose gerbils...
>
Many years ago we bought a brilliant trap that is perfect for gerbils. I
have never seen another one and as it is like a giant version of a
mousetrap I I have seen on sale I think it may have been made as a
demonstrator or marketing piece.
It has a label saying "Magic Mouse Trap" but no address or company
details.
It is a black plastic tube with a square section, About 3 inches by 3
inches. it is well over a foot long, and has a bend of about 30 degrees
in it.
One end has a clip on end to stop the captive escaping. The other end
has a door with a couple of built in "props". These hold the door open
when the trap is set. The trap sits with a door end on the ground, and
the other end about an inch off the ground due to the bend in the tube.
When gerbil enters the trap it will explore the whole length (gerbils
are sucker for any tube). When they pass the bend their weight tips up
the trap, the door closes and the props engage two clips under the trap.
The position of the two props means that the gerbil could only push the
door open if the two clips came loose, and if it were to push hard
enough to also raise itself over an inch. The leverage on the props
means it will never succeed.
We have used this dozens of times. The trap has a 100% safety record and
must have caught dozens of gerbils. Because gerbils love exploring so
much you normally only need to leave the rap in a closed room with an
escaped gerbil for ten minutes before you hear the distinctive "clunk"
of the door slamming shut.
--
Julian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Gerbil Society
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
