GB2270455A - Apparatus for catching wild animals - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for catching wild animals such as rabbits includes a fence constructed from a plurality of fence panels 11, 12 each of which has a plurality of vertically-slidable bars which can held in the lifted position. A remotely operable catch mechanism allows all of the bars simultaneously to fall to contact the ground. A cage 10 is provided between two fence panels and has an opening 42 leading to the interior of the cage. The fence is erected with the bars raised, between a safe haven for the rabbits and their feeding ground. Once the rabbits are used to the presence of the fence and are feeding, the bars are allowed to fall and prevent the return of the rabbits to their safe haven. The fence then guides the rabbits into the cage 10 whence they may be collected for disposal. <IMAGE>

Description

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CATCHING WILD ANIMALS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for catching wild animals.

The background to the invention will be described with reference to rabbits. The invention is not limited to this application, however, and may be used wherever suitable.

Rabbits cause a tremendous amount of damage to crops. Shooting has never been especially effective, since in a field full of rabbits invading a crop, only one or two can be shot before all the other rabbits run underground. The anti-shooting lobby is also gaining in popularity. Other traditional methods of exterminating the pests, e.g. gassing the warren, are also becoming less popular with the result that new methods are sought. Traps have been tried, using a trap being baited with food and arranged to catch live and undamaged. However, as with shooting, each trap is likely to catch only one or two rabbits, which will note have a significant impact on the total population.

Against this background the invention provides apparatus for trapping animals, comprising a fence having one or more members movable between an open position in which the animals to be trapped can pass across the fence transverse to its length and a closed position in which the animals cannot pass across the fence, and one or more traps located adjacent the fence so that an animal running along one side of the fence when said member or members are in the closed position is directed thereby into the trap.

Although a few rabbits may be found out and about at other times, in the early morning and late evening rabbits habitually leave their burrows to feed. Then they are likely to be found in significant numbers, feeding on crops. The rabbits generally feed in the vicinity of their burrows which may be, for example, in a hedge-row. In use, the apparatus is erected between a safe haven (e.g. a warren or a hedge-row) and a source of food, e.g. the crop to be protected. The fence is left in an open condition and may be left like that until the rabbits ignore its presence. This may take typically one or two days. Then, when the rabbits have crossed the fence to feed on a crop, the catcher closes the fence. That may or may not disturb the rabbits If disturbed, or later if undisturbed, the rabbits will attempt to return to their safe haven on the other side of the fence.Finding it closed, they will run along the fence and be guided into the trap.

It is important that the fence, when closed, does not leave a gap beneath which the rabbits can squeeze.

In one convenient form, the fence comprises a plurality of generally vertical bars spaced therealong and constituting the one or more movable members, the bars being slidable between the open position in which they are raised clear of the ground and the closed position in which they are lowered and in contact with the ground. In such a case, the fence will include means for releasably retaining the bars in their raised position. As each bar falls until it reaches the ground, unevenness in the ground is accommodated without leaving gaps under the fence.

In an effective arrangement, each bar passes slidably through holes in two or more parallel rails.

In a preferred arrangement, each bar extends through a respective aperture in a fixed rail and has a shoulder for engagement with a movable lifting.

There may be a release rail mounted for movement between a position where the lower ends of the bars rest thereon, thus retaining the bars in their raised position, and a position in which the release rail moves away from the bars, thus releasing the bars to fall to their lower, closed position. The release rail may be operated remotely by more or less complicated means ranging from a cord to an electrical solenoid.

Since the holes through the support rails must be sufficiently large to permit the bars to fall freely and reliably, if there is a deep hollow into which one or more bars may fall, it is possible that the bars could spread apart at their lower ends sufficiently to allow a rabbit between them. To reduce the likelihood of this occurring, there is preferably provided at least one tie member through which the lower ends of the bars pass, the tie member having a series of individual holes through which the bars pass. For some applications, it may be desirable to have one or more links arranged to limit the downward movement of the tie member, to prevent jamming of the sliding movement of the bars. Such a tie member will constrain the lower ends of the bars to the same spacing as at the lower rail of the fence, to prevent a rabbit forcing the bars apart and escaping through the fence.

So that the bars will fall reliably when released even if the ground is sloping, the fence is preferably supported by posts attached to the rails for relative pivotal movement in the general plane of the fence.

The fence may thus be erected with the posts and bars generally vertical, but the rails following the general slope of the land.

The fence may comprise a plurality of interlinked sections.

In order to prevent birds which may be flushed along the fence from being trapped, the trap is preferably open-topped so that any birds entering the trap can fly out.

In order to facilitate trapping a plurality of rabbits, the trap preferably is not of a form which needs to be tripped. In one form the trap comprises a wire mesh cage having a tunnel-like entry thereto.

Although that may not be as secure as a trap where a door, say, is closed as the trap is tripped, a keeper would normally have closed the fence and so would soon be at the trap to deal with the rabbits caught therein.

In a preferred form, the tunnel-like entry to the trap has walls which narrows towards the inside of the trap.

The invention also extends to a method for catching animals, comprising erecting the apparatus between a safe haven and a source of food or water, leaving the fence in an open condition until one or more animals have passed through to the food or water, then closing the fence.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of apparatus for trapping rabbits and constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a double fence panel for use in the overall apparatus for trapping rabbits with the bars in a lowered position; Figure 2 is a section on line II-II marked on Figure 1, but with the bars held in a raised position; Figure 3 is a detailed view of a corner post region of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a cross-section through the corner post region, taken on line IV-IV marked on Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detailed view of a catch mechanism for the bars of the fence; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a supporting leg arrangement for use at each end of a panel as shown in Figure 1;; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a trap for use between two fence panels each as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 8 is a plan view of a possible arrangement of fence panels and a trap, in order to form a complete rabbit trapping apparatus of this invention.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is intended primarily for use in trapping rabbits. The apparatus may be suitable for trapping other animals, but in this case the sizing and precise configuration of the component parts may need some modification, as may be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises a trap 10 and two fence parts 11 and 12 (Figure 8), one to each side respectively of the trap 10 and each fence part being constructed from a number of like fence panels. Each fence panel is of the form illustrated in Figure 1 and comprises a framework constructed from a channel section top rail 13, a channel section bottom rail 14, a pair of angle section end uprights 15 and an angle section intermediate upright 16 secured to one side of the top rail 13.

Intermediate braces 15A may be provided between the top and bottom rails, to strengthen the framework. The top and bottom rails 13 and 14 are connected to the end and intermediate uprights by means of bolts 17 furnished with wing nuts so that when loosened, the framework may be distorted by pivoting movement of the various rails and uprights with respect to one another, away from a true rectangular configuration. This may be necessary for example when the fence is to be erected on sloping ground; the end and intermediate uprights may still be arranged to lie vertically, though the top and bottom rails may lie parallel to the average slope of the ground.

As shown in Figure 6, each end upright has a block 18 secured to its outwardly directed face, adjacent the upper end of that upright. A cross-bar 19 is clamped by means of a bolt 20 to the upright above, but in contact with, the block 18. The cross-bar 19 supports a pair of adjustable legs 21, by means of bolts furnished with wing nuts 22 whereby the nuts may easily be loosened to permit the pivoting of the legs to appropriate positions for the ground on which the fence is being erected. Once set at appropriate positions in engagement with the ground and with the associated upright in a vertical disposition, the nuts 22 may be tightened. The legs 21 may be telescopically adjustable, if required.

Each end upright is provided with a vertically adjustable ground leg 23, the leg having an elongate slot 24 through which extends a pair of bolts 25 mounted on the end upright itself. Each bolt 25 has a washer and wing nut mounted thereon, whereby the ground leg may readily be loosened, adjusted as required and then clamped to the end upright. In a similar way, the intermediate upright 16 is provided with a ground leg 23, to one side of the fence panel.

As shown in Figure 4, end upright 15 has a flange 26 extending generally parallel to the plane of the fence panel. It is through this flange 26 that the bolts connecting the end upright to the channel-section rails 13 and 14 pass. Those bolts also pass through a separate guide 27, which extends parallel to the flange 26, thereby defining a channel shaped slot at each end upright, which slot faces the corresponding slot at the other end of the panel. Loosely mounted between the end uprights is a lifting member 28 also of channel section, the lifting member being constrained for vertical sliding movement within the slots at each end upright. A stop 29 is mounted on each end upright respectively, to limit vertically downward sliding movement of the lifting member 28.

Both the lifting member 28 and the bottom rail 14 are provided with a series of holes 30 extending along the length of the member and rail respectively, the holes of the two series being in vertical alignment.

Mounted in each pair of vertically aligned holes is a respective bar 31, each bar having an end cap 32 at its two ends which caps have a greater diameter than the diameter of the holes through which the bar passes.

Each bar is a loose sliding fit through the respective holes in the lifting member and bottom rail, so that even when the framework is distorted from a true rectangular shape, the bars still may slide vertically without binding on the lifting member and bottom rail.

A bar release member 35, of angle cross-sectional shape, is hinged to the bottom rail 14 as shown in Figure 5. A number of discrete hinges is provided along the length of the bottom rail 14, each hinge being mounted on a respective bracket 36, so that the release member 35 is adequately supported on the bottom rail and may swing freely under gravity from the position shown in Figure 2, to the position shown in Figure 5. A pair of catch mechanisms are provided to retain the release member in its raised position as shown in Figure 2, each catch mechanism comprising a plate 37 attached to the lower face of the release member 35 and projecting laterally therefrom, and a latch 38 pivoted to the bottom rail 14. The latch 38 has a slot in which may be received a part of the plate 37 and is pivoted to a link 39, connecting the latch of one mechanism to the latch of the other mechanism.

Pivoting movement of the latch 38 from the position illustrated in Figure 3 simultaneously releases the plates 37 of the two catch mechanisms, so allowing the release member 35 to pivot under gravity to the position illustrated in Figure 5.

Though not shown in the drawings, an actuator which may be operated remotely from the fence panel is provided for the catch mechanisms described above.

Such an actuator may comprise an electro-magnetic solenoid appropriately coupled to the link 39 so that when energised, the two latches 38 are simultaneously pivoted to free the release member 35. A power source for the solenoid may be coupled through a remote switch to the solenoid, by means of wires of a suitable length so that the solenoid may be energised from a position some distance from the fence. Alternatively a radio or infra-red link may be employed. Other designs of remotely-operable actuator will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

When the fence panel extends over uneven ground, the lower ends of at least some of the bars 31 may be disposed at a significant distance below the bottom rail 14. As such, it is possible that a rabbit could escape through the fence, by separating two adjacent bars to an extent sufficient to allow the rabbit to pass therebetween. To prevent this happening, there is provided an elongate tie strip 33 having a series of holes formed therethrough which corresponds to the series of holes in the bottom rail 14. The lower portion of each bar passes through a respective hole in the tie strip, as shown in Figure 3. Conveniently, the tie strip is made of a flexible plastics material, whereby the material may bend along its length as required, to follow the ground contour.For some applications, it may be desirable to limit the downward movement of such a strip, for example by links, straps or other members (not shown) connected to the bottom rail 14.

Figure 7 shows a trap 10 for use in conjunction with the fence panels described above. The trap comprises a cage constructed from wire mesh panels linked together. The cage includes a base panel also of wire mesh, so that a trapped animal cannot dig an exit out of the cage, and four side panels (only two of which are visible in Figure 7, identified by the numbers 40 and 41), appropriately connected to the base panel and to each other. One side panel 40 has an opening 42 part-way along the length thereof, the opening leading into a tunnel 43 constructed from wire mesh and narrowing both in the vertical and horizontal directions. The further end of the tunnel opens into the main area of the cage, above the base panel.

The cage includes four extension panels 44 to 47, each of which is hinged by couplings 49 to a respective side panel. When the apparatus is in use, the extension panels are secured in the position shown generally in Figure 7, so that any bird or other flying creature trapped by the apparatus may fly free of the cage. However, when rabbits find their way into the cage, they will be trapped therein. When those rabbits are to be captured, the extension panels may be hinged downwardly to lie parallel to the base panel, so completely closing the cage. To assist catching of the rabbits for their disposal, one extension panel 44 is provided with a pair of rectangular apertures 50, normally closed by doors 51 also of wire mesh and of a considerably greater size than the apertures.When the panel 44 is lowered to lie parallel to the base panel, and one of its doors 51 is also released to hinge downwardly, that door divides the interior of the cage into two sections and access may be gained to one of those sections through the aperture 50, whereby an operator may catch rabbits trapped within that section.

The apparatus is used by constructing a fence from two or more fence parts with a trap between each adjacent pair of fence parts, and with each fence part consisting of a number of fence panels as described above, linked end-to-end. For this purpose, a generally U-shaped clip may be provided, which clip is inserted into the adjacent ground legs 23 of two adjacent fence panels. Should the ground on which the fence is erected slope, the fence panels may be deformed as required, by loosening the bolts between the top and bottom rails and the uprights and then retightening those bolts with the fence panels in the appropriate configuration.

The fence is constructed across an area of ground traversed by rabbits on passing between a safe haven and their feeding ground. The lifting member 28 of each panel is raised, so lifting the bars 31 by virtue of the interengagement between the upper end caps 32 of the bars and the lifting member. When the bars are raised, the release member 35 is swung to the position shown in Figure 2 and the two plates 37 of that release member 35 are caught by the respective latches 38, so that the release member is restrained in that position, supporting the lower ends of the bars 31.

The or each trap 10 is positioned on the safe haven side of the fence between two adjacent fence parts, with the extension panels raised as shown in Figure 7. Though in Figure 8 the fence parts are shown extending generally in a V-shape, those fence parts could be arranged more or less linearly, if required.

In addition, if a relatively long fence is required, each fence part may be constructed partially from fence panels having movable bars, as have been described above, and partly from fence panels having fixed bars, extending down to the ground. For example, fence panels with movable bars may be alternated with fence panels with fixed bars.

The fence is best installed during the daytime and is left with the bars raised - that is to say, in the open condition so that rabbits may freely pass from one side of the fence to the other. Initially, the rabbits will be wary of that fence but within a day or so will ignore its presence and will pass freely between their safe haven and the feeding ground. Then, when a large number of rabbits is in the feeding ground, the fence is closed by remotely operating the catch mechanisms, to allow all of the bars to fall to ground level.

The action of closing the fence may disturb the rabbits in which case they will run for their safe haven. Otherwise, at some point subsequently, the rabbits will attempt to return to their safe haven. In either case, the rabbits - on finding the fence closed - will run along the length of the fence until reaching a cage. There, they will find the opening to the tunnel and run through that tunnel into the cage as the tunnel leads generally in the safe-haven direction, and will remain trapped in that cage until collected for disposal subsequently.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for trapping animals, comprising a fence having one or more members movable between an open position in which the animals to be trapped can pass across the fence transverse along its length and a closed position in which the animals cannot pass across the fence, and one or more traps located adjacent the fence so that an animal running along one side of the fence when said member or members are in the closed position is directed thereby into the trap.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fence comprises a plurality of generally vertical bars spaced therealong and constituting the one or more movable members, the bars being slidable between the open position in which they are raised and the closed position in which they are lowered; and means for releasably retaining the bars in the raised position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each bar passes slidably through holes in two or more support rails.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein one of the support rails is movable generally vertically, and each bar defines a shoulder with which said one support rail may engage on being lifted, whereby all of the bars may be lifted simultaneously on raising said one support rail.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein there is provided a release rail movable between first and second positions, the lower ends of all of the bars when in their raised positions bearing on the release rail when in its first position, and the release rail when in its second position allowing the bars to fall under gravity to their closed position.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a remotely-operable catch arrangement is provided to restrain the release rail in its first position, but which allows the release rail to move to its second position when operated.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said catch arrangement includes an electro-magnet solenoid operatively connected to the catch mechanism.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 7, including at least one tie member through which all of the bars pass and arranged beneath the support rail to prevent relative separation of the lower ends of the bars.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the fence comprises a framework constructed from upright members and rails extending therebetween, the connections between the upright members and rails allowing relative pivotal movement in the plane of the fence.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the framework includes ground legs adapted to support the fence on the ground and to resist toppling movement of the fence.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the fence comprises a plurality of interlinked fence panels.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the trap comprises a cage having an opening in a side wall and through which an animal is guided by the fence to enter the cage.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said opening comprises the mouth of a tunnel the crosssection of which reduces in the direction away from the side wall.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the cage is fabricated from wire mesh panels.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the cage is open-topped.

16. Apparatus for catching wild animals and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying darwings.

17. A method for catching animals, comprising erecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim between a safe haven and a source of food or water, leaving the fence in an open condition until one ore more animals has passed through the fence to the food or water, and then closing the fence.

18. A method according to Claim 17 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.