Remote control gate release for trap enclosure

Abstract

A trap for capturing a plurality of animals is provided. The trap can comprise an enclosure having an opening through which the at least one animal can pass to enter the enclosure. A gate, movable between an open position and a closed position, is positioned therein the at least one opening and can be selectively moved from the open position to the closed position when desired. Methods are also provided for capturing at least one animal by providing a trap with a gate, positioning the gate in an open position, monitoring the trap until at least one animal has entered the trap, and remotely triggering the gate to move from the open position to a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trap for capturing at least one animal comprising:
 an enclosure having at least one opening through which the at least one animal can pass;   a gate positioned therein the at least one opening, wherein the gate is movable between an open position and a closed position; and   means for remotely triggering the gate to move the gate from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The trap of  claim 1 , wherein the means for remotely triggering the gate comprises:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a signal;   a remote control mechanism comprising a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter, wherein the remote control mechanism is configured to move the gate from the open position to the closed position in response to the received signal.   
     
     
         3 . The trap of  claim 2 , further comprises a weather-proof housing configured to house at least a portion of the remote control mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The trap of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is a key fob. 
     
     
         5 . The trap of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is a remote control. 
     
     
         6 . The trap of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         7 . The trap of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is a motion sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The trap of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is configured for wireless communication with the receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The trap of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver is a cell phone controller and is configured to move the gate from the open position to the closed position in response to a received telephone call. 
     
     
         10 . The trap of  claim 1 , further comprising means for detecting the presence of at least one animal therein the enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The trap of  claim 10 , wherein the means for detecting the presence of the at least one animal therein the enclosure comprises an infrared camera. 
     
     
         12 . The trap of  claim 10 , wherein the means for detecting the presence of the at least one animal therein the enclosure comprises a night vision camera. 
     
     
         13 . The trap of  claim 10 , wherein the means for detecting the presence of the at least one animal therein the enclosure comprises a thermal imaging camera. 
     
     
         14 . The trap of  claim 10 , wherein the means for detecting the presence of the at least one animal therein the enclosure comprises an internet protocol web camera. 
     
     
         15 . The trap of  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially automatic food dispensing mechanism positioned therein the enclosure and configured to provide food to at least one animal therein the enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The trap of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control mechanism further comprises:
 a relay in operative communication with the receiver;   a push/pull solenoid in operative communication with the relay;   a battery in operative communication with the relay and the receiver; and   a gate release mechanism,   
       wherein in response to the received signal from the transmitter, the receiver is configured to send an output signal to the relay, the relay is configured to trigger the battery to send a direct current output to the push/pull solenoid, and the push/pull solenoid is configured to trigger the gate release mechanism to close the gate. 
     
     
         17 . A method for capturing at least one animal, comprising:
 providing a trap comprising:
 an enclosure having at least one opening through which the at least one animal can pass; 
 a gate positioned therein the at least one opening, wherein the gate is movable between an open position and a closed position; 
 a transmitter configured to transmit a signal; and 
 a remote control mechanism comprising a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter, wherein the remote control mechanism is configured to move the gate from the open position to the closed position in response to the received signal; 
   positioning the gate in the open position;   monitoring the trap until at least one animal has entered the trap; and   remotely triggering the gate to move from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein remotely triggering the gate to move from the open position to the closed position comprises transmitting the signal from the transmitter to the receiver. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transmitter is a cellular telephone and the receiver is a cell phone controller, and wherein transmitting the signal comprises sending a telephone call from the cellular telephone to the cell phone controller.