Lost snake trap!

[guidofatherof5]

I recently posted that I lost a snake in the basement. Our "Lucky" was found without incident. Here's what I did. My first big concern was that she needed food and water. I left a bowl with water and a bowl with worms in dirt out. I put it in the utility room since that was where the most heat was generated in the basement. I placed those items on a white piece of construction paper. She would knock some dirt out if she was feeding and any water spilled would show. The only problem with this idea is that she was free to roam and not secured and safe. So here's my trap. I went to Walmart and purchased a few "Mice Cubes" These are an almost clear square plastic tubes. The front of it has a very light hinged plastic door. You place some kind of bait at the other end and set it down. The door is vented and the mouse pushes the plastic door out of the way to get to the food. Once the mouse is inside the door closes behind and the mouse is trapped. I took those traps and cut of the closed end. I then cut a square hole on the side of the cardboard box. The mouse cube is slightly tapered so as you push the cube into the hole you cut it fits very tight. Place some bait inside the box, worms, fish. etc. Punch some small holes in the box so the scent can get out. Place the traps in locations you think it would work best. The missing snake will get the scent and go looking for its meal. It will push the door on the mouse cube open, enter the box and not be able to get out. Just make sure your box is big enough that the snake must enter completely before it gets to the bait. If not it may double back and be able to escape since the door didn't close all the way. Check the traps a lot!
Disclaimer: I don't know if it really works. Looks good on paper. Lucky was found without the uses of this trap. Somebody out there prove me right and give it a try.

[Sid]

Sounds like it should work. I thinks I'll fix up a couple and keep on hand if ever needed. Thanks for the tip.

[crzy_kevo]

sounds like a trap that could possibly work very innovative im impressed :D

[infernalis]

Great idea! Creative thinking:D

[Stefan-A]

Interesting idea. :) Who wants to test it?

[infernalis]

Interesting idea. :) Who wants to test it?

Let your snakes out and give it a try.....

[Stefan-A]

Let your snakes out and give it a try.....
Why not just put it in an enclosure?

[crzy_kevo]

now your thinking :D

[infernalis]

Why not just put it in an enclosure?


Where is the fun in that.....

[Stefan-A]

Where is the fun in that.....
Well, you get to test if the idea works. I think that's kind of fun, especially if it does work.

[infernalis]

I agree.

Well the smarty pants wave has passed......:D

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol :D

neat idea!!!:D

[guidofatherof5]

I finished my first prototype. It's still rough but here it is.
Upgrades to this will be a door closing mechanism, so that the snake enters without having to raise the trap door. I would also like a transmitter on it so that it alerts me(cell phone) when the trap is activated. This trap must be checked often and place in a sheltered area. I don't think a snake can survive the heat generated by direct sunlight of a very hot day.
It could also be buried in the soil to help disquise it and give some insulation from the heat.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap5.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap_41.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap_2.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Why not just put it in an enclosure?
I gave it a try. I baited the back end of the trap with some cut-up worms. The lip of the trap door was smeared with worm slime. I was surprizes that the first one in was a small one. Two were starting in but one backed out. This was after 3 minutes in the enclosure. It's been 30 minutes since then and there is a lot of activity around the trap. Especially by the door. They can smell the worms through the ventalated pipe. I will test it outside, around my house, next.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap_3.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap_snake.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap.jpg

[Stefan-A]

Excellent. :) It will be interesting to see how well it performs.

[guidofatherof5]

I just re-baited the trap and put it downstairs with a group of my adults. Test drive #2.

[guidofatherof5]

I just re-baited the trap and put it downstairs with a group of my adults. Test drive #2.

Here's victim #2. After about 30 minutes I caught one of my little males. He doesn't look very happy.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap6.jpg

[gregmonsta]

:D excellent work mate!!!

[crzy_kevo]

this is a great idea steve and im glad it works i havent told the forum yet but george got out somehow and shes been missing for almost 2 weeks :(

i will have to fabricate something like this

i still have the tube from my thamnophis poster im sure that will be useful

[guidofatherof5]

this is a great idea steve and im glad it works i havent told the forum yet but george got out somehow and shes been missing for almost 2 weeks :(

i will have to fabricate something like this

i still have the tube from my thamnophis poster im sure that will be useful

I think one of these mice cubes would fit right in the end. You could tape it in. Just make sure there is no way the snake can come in contact with the tape. Set it along the wall where you have a heat lamp. Best of luck. Keep us informed about George.

[adamanteus]

Excellent design there, Steve. Looks as though you're going to save a lot of people a lot of grief!

[crzy_kevo]

ok well i finished making one its in test drive #1

i didnt have time to go find a mouse cube but i cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside one end and attached it with duct tape and strung it with an elastic band to make it shut when it gets opened i made a bait sack with the wet carefresh im keeping my last worm in and i also put the worm inside of it basically just wrapped in some screen and tied shut

i poked a bunch of holes in the back end where the bait sack is and in the front door and scented the inside and the dor with the bait hopefully it works i put it in the enclosure to see

[snakems]

ok well i finished making one its in test drive #1

i didnt have time to go find a mouse cube but i cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside one end and attached it with duct tape and strung it with an elastic band to make it shut when it gets opened i made a bait sack with the wet carefresh im keeping my last worm in and i also put the worm inside of it basically just wrapped in some screen and tied shut

i poked a bunch of holes in the back end where the bait sack is and in the front door and scented the inside and the dor with the bait hopefully it works i put it in the enclosure to see

interestinggg!
cant wait to see the results!
GOOD LUCK! :)

[anji1971]

Neat idea!:cool:
Kevin, I sure hope you find George. You must be going crazy.:eek:

[ssssnakeluvr]

Here's victim #2. After about 30 minutes I caught one of my little males. He doesn't look very happy.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/trap6.jpg
no, he doesn't...you can see...he's sticking his tongue out at you!! :cool:

haven't tried the traps myself....after an expensive escapee waskilled by neighbor kids year before last, I went thru my critter room (a mother-in-law apt on the back of my garage) and sealed every nook and cranny. every escapee since has shown up sooner or later.

[guidofatherof5]

The trap is now getting an outside test drive. Along my shed, I have a lot of unused siding. Prime location for the little radixes to hide. It's baited it with cut up worms. I'll give it a few hours to see how it works. Expecting heavy rain/thunderstorms later today.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/outside_trap.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/outside_trap1.jpg

[drache]

looks good
anything yet?

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow very neat!:)

[guidofatherof5]

looks good
anything yet?
Storm moving in. The trap was empty. Will try again when the weather warms and clears up.