Rodent trap

An animal trap for rodents and the like comprising:

• an enclosure having an open top;
• and, a bait compartment adapted to be coupled to, and arranged over, the open top of said enclosure, said bait compartment comprising a support structure for supporting said bait compartment over said enclosure;
• at least one tilting bottom panel having pivot means pivotally connected to said support structure for pivoting said panel from a first horizontal preoperative position over said enclosure to a second tilted operative position directed into said enclosure, said panel having a first end proximate to said pivot means and a second end distal to said pivot means, said panel having further mounted to said first end of said panel adjacent said pivot means first magnetic means and counterweight means for substantially balancing said panel at said pivot means, said panel and a substantial portion of said counterweight means being arranged above said pivot means when said panel is in said preoperative position;
• and, second magnetic means mounted to said support structure cooperatively arranged with said first magnetic means for retaining said panel in said preoperative position with a predetermined magnetic force;
• wherein said panel is displaced from said horizontal preoperative position to said tilted operative position by the moment of the rodent's weight on said panel, overcoming the retentive force of said two cooperating magnetic means, said counterweight means having an effective moment, opposite to the moment of a rodent's weight, which effective moment is substantially reduced when said panel is displaced from said preoperative position to said operative position.