Abstract

A snare-type animal trap is characterized by a spring noose-actuating spring arm which pivots well in excess of 90° from its set to its sprung positions. The spring arm is bent slightly to add to its effective sprung position angle. In a leg snare embodiment, a noose cable guide at the distal end of the spring arm includes a narrow surface from which two upwardly projecting bent guide members extend to define a slot for slidably guiding the cable. The cable is anchored at one end and has a noose formed at its free end by means of a slide member having two through-holes slidably surrounding the cable. A washer precludes passage of the free end of the cable through the first hole which is aligned with a channel defined between two fingers formed at the bifurcated end of the slide member. The fingers are curled back toward the first hole so that the cable can slidably pass through the first hole, the channel, and then through the second hole to form the noose. The channel formed by the curled fingers prevents the cable from pivoting when the trap is actuated and forces the noose to rise vertically.