Building Snake Traps with Savannah

This afternoon Amber, Keegan, and Kennedy went out in the back yard to play in the kiddie pool and sprinkler. When Amber reached down to grab the hose, lo and behold, she nearly grabbed a snake!

I was inside when I heard the screech. Amber came in and expressed her concerns. I went to the bush where the snake had slithered to and flushed him out. "Good" I thought. "He's gone."

Not quite. I watched as he slithered into a small hole underneath the power supply for the air conditioner ON OUR HOUSE. After further inspection it was determined he was not in the box, but in the walls of our home.

This needed remedied. Fast.

I decided to build a snake trap.

So, Savannah and I headed to the basement to build a snake trap.

The design is simple: You build a tube long and wide enough to hold the snake, then build a one way trap door at the end. You butt the trap up against the hole and wait. Hopefully when he comes out he'll go down your trapped tube and get stuck. Mwwwaaaaahahahahaahhahahahah!!!!

Materials:

• 1 cardboard wrapping paper tube
• tape (packing, duct, etc - something that can withstand the elements a wee bit)
• 1 toothpick
• 1 piece of plastic (from something in the trash!)
  
• 1 sharpie
• 1 rubber band
• scissors
• Rocks, logs, etc to hold the snake trap in place.

Step 1 - Cut the end cap and trap door
Stick the end of your tube on the plastic and draw a circle. Add a tab about a quarter inch wide to the edge of one circle.

Cut the circles, leaving the notched tab on one of course.
Play around with the trap door in the tube. Make sure it is not too tight that it can't open and close but not so loose there is a big gap between the sides.

The other circle is for the end cap and needs to be a little bigger than the end of the tube.


Check your baby.











Step 2 - Assemble the trap door

Cut a slit about a quarter inch long extending from the edge of each tab on the trap door parallel with the edge. This will hold the rubber band which will snap it shut after the snake has passed over the door.

Cut a slit long enough for the tab to fit through from the inside of the snake tube. I used the point of my scissors.

Slip the rubber band through the two slits.

Slide the trap door into the tube and insert the tab into the slit you just cut. Make sure the trap door swings down the long portion of the tube. Pull the rubber band out the open end.

Step 3 - Make a rubber band anchor point.

Find a point where you can anchor the rubber band that will pull the trap door closed but not be so tight it can't be easily pushed open. Poke two holes fairly close together at this point. Break off 3/4 of the toothpick and slide the larger piece through the two holes. (This keeps the toothpick out of the snake's way.)

Pull the rubber band through the open end and hook it on the toothpick at the anchor point.

Test your trap door. Does it open easily? Does it close easily?

Once your are satisfied with the trap door's operation, tape down the tab of the trap door you inserted through the slit.

Take the 1/4 remainder of the toothpick. Insert it on the opposite side of the tube from the tab far enough that it engages the trap door when it closes. This will prevent the snake from getting out once the trap door closes. Secure it with some tape on the outside of the tube.

Step 4 - Install the end cap

Put the end cap on the end of the tube opposite the trap door. Tape it on the end securely so it can't be pushed out by a snake.







Step 5 - Set the trap

Go to your snake hole and butt up the end of the tube with the trap door on the hole. The side of the tube with the tab sticking out should be towards the top. (This way the door opens easiest for a snake traveling on the bottom of your tube.) Make sure to involve your 5 year old son for a real kick.

Prevent it from rolling or moving vertically by placing logs on either side and over the top. 5 year old boys are very good at collecting logs for you.

Step 6 - Wait

Wait for the snake. They come out and night often so check in the morning. You may be able to bait the snake with some insects as well.

All in all making and setting this trap took about 30 minutes.