Animal trap

A method of trapping animals, the method comprising:

• detecting the presence of an animal in a trap section of an animal trap, the trap section having at least one moveable wall section, the at least one moveable wall section being moveable with respect to one or more other walls of the trap section to thereby alter the size of the trap section, the animal detection means being operable to detect the presence of an animal within the trap section and adapted to signal such a presence to a control means, which control means is operable, upon receipt of said signal, to cause movement of the at least one moveable wall section and thus alter the size of the trap section, wherein the at least one moveable wall section is moveable by compressed air such as to push the moveable wall toward an opposed other wall at speed, crushing a trapped animal and killing it against the opposed wall, and wherein the animal detection means comprises a beam of light, which is cast across at least a portion of the trap section;
• detecting a pressure of the compressed air of the animal trap;
• determining if the pressure is below a limit that is a preset minimal pressure needed to move the at least one moveable wall section with enough force to terminate the animal;
• and
• if the pressure is below the limit, deactivating the animal trap, if the pressure is not below the limit, causing movement of the at least one moveable wall section in response to the control means receiving said signal, the movement of the at least one moveable wall section altering the size of the trap section and crushing the trapped animal.