First-Of-Their-Kind Laser-Triggered Traps

First-Of-Their-Kind Laser-Triggered Traps MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Pest Animals 31-3-40 Randy Hushower says his patent-pending "Laser Bird Trap" and "Laser Animal Trap Conversion Kit" are the first traps to ever use lasers as triggers. The traps have only been on the market for a few months but he's already had tremendous interest in them. The Laser Bird Trap system uses an infrared electronic laser to detect the presence of one or more birds. Detection activates a solenoid to release the hinged trap door. The result is a poison and chemical-free way to catch birds live. Hushower designed the trap so it can be placed either horizontally on the ground or vertically up on the side of a building. "No weight is needed to trip the trap because the bird silently breaks the infrared beam," he explains. "The door encloses them so quickly they're caught without any chance of escape. A pop-up flag tells you from a distance that a bird has been caught." To add versatility to the trap's operation, Hushower incorporated a time-delay switch as a standard feature on his traps. It can be set for either a zero, 10, 20 or 30-second delay between the laser beam being broken and the door closing. This makes it possible to catch more birds at once (rather than a single bird, which is first to approach). The Laser Bird Trap comes in two sizes - a 17 by 17-in. model for smaller birds, and a 2 by 2-ft. version for bigger birds like pigeons. Each unit runs on three double A batteries, which Hushower says last three to four months. The company also sells a "Laser Animal Trap Conversion Kit," which uses the same electronic technology and can be put on most existing cage traps, from squirrel to raccoon size. "On regular cage traps, many animals will step over the trip panel and steal the bait. My conversion kit solves this problem and it takes only about 15 to 20 minutes to make the conversion," Hushower says. "Also, the kit allows me to use these traps where I couldn't before û such as on a roof, where they sit at an angle. This system can also operate a trap with a double-ended door. There are many different applications." The Laser Bird Trap sells for $229 (17 by 17-in.), and the 24 by 24-in. model is priced at $259 (plus S&H). The Laser Animal Trap Conversion Kit costs $125 (plus S&H); however. Hushower says he's working toward an arrangement with a trap company to build the cage traps with this device installed at a more reasonable price. Visit the Niles Wildlife Pest Control website to see live videos of the traps at work. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Niles Wildlife Pest Control, PLLC, 58300 Indian Lake Road, Dowagiac, Mich. 49047 (ph 269 684-1016 or 877 212-7378; sales@nileswildlife.com; www.nileswildlife.com).

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