Systems And Methods For Animal Trapping

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 system for capturing a plurality of feral pigs, the system comprising:
 an enclosure, wherein at least one portion of the enclosure is moveable from an open position to a closed position that restricts passage of the plurality of feral pigs out of the enclosure, wherein in the closed position, the enclosure is configured to cooperate with a ground surface to define an enclosure area, wherein in the open position, the enclosure is configured to permit passage of the plurality of feral pigs into the enclosure area;   a camera assembly comprising a motion sensor configured to sense a presence of at least one feral pig of the plurality of feral pigs within the enclosure, wherein the camera assembly is configured to transmit a detection signal indicative of the sensing of the presence of said at least one feral pig within the enclosure area;   a display device configured to wirelessly receive the detection signal, wherein the camera assembly is configured to transmit an image of at least a portion of the enclosure area to the display device, wherein the display device is configured to display the image, and wherein the display device is configured to transmit a closure signal that is indicative of an instruction to move said at least one portion of the enclosure from the open position to the closed position;   a control mechanism configured to wirelessly receive the closure signal, wherein in response to receiving the closure signal, the control mechanism is configured to transmit a release signal; and   a release mechanism coupled to said at least one portion of the enclosure, wherein the release mechanism is configured to receive the release signal and, in response to receiving the release signal, move said at least one portion of the enclosure from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises at least one of a computer, a wireless handheld device, a remote control, a user interface, or a telephone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device is a wireless handheld device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless handheld device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera assembly comprises an internet protocol web camera, and wherein the internet protocol web camera is configured to transmit the detection signal to the display device via a wireless internet network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system does not comprise a trip wire. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure has a generally rounded shape that defines the enclosure area. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a frame, and wherein said at least one portion of the enclosure slides along the frame from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera assembly is positioned within the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera assembly comprises an infrared camera. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera assembly comprises a night vision camera. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a user interface that allows adjustment of resolution, brightness, or contrast of the image transmitted by the camera assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface permits adjustment of the portion of the enclosure area that is imaged by the camera assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to display:
 the image transmitted by the camera assembly;   user-adjustable fields indicative of one or more properties of the image; and   user-adjustable fields indicative of one or more settings of the camera assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a user interface that permits panning or zooming of the camera assembly to adjust the portion of the enclosure area that is imaged by the camera assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises a button, and wherein the display device is configured to transmit the closure signal in response to pressing the button.