Mousetrap

:For more meanings, see Mousetrap (disambiguation).

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A mousetrap is a device used for trapping or killing small rodents, especially mice.

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The traditional type (illustrated) was invented by Hiram Maxim (who also invented the Maxim Gun). It is a simple device with a heavily springloaded bar and a trip to release it. Stereotypically, cheese is placed on the trip as bait, but this does not work well as in reality most mice don't like it; they will however take other food such as chocolate, bread or meat. Peanut butter is also quite effective. The spring-loaded bar swings down rapidly when anything touches the trip, usually a mouse. The design is such that the mouse's neck or spinal cord will be broken, or its ribs crushed, by the force of the bar.

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This is not the only type of trap, however. There are many traps which catch the mouse alive so that it can be released into the wild. It is important to release the mouse promptly - as they can die from stress - and at some distance, as mice have a strong homing instinct.

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Strychnine-soaked grain pellets were a common substitute for mousetraps for some time; however, they are rarely used nowadays because of the toxicity of the chemical.

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Ralph Waldo Emerson made the oft-quoted remark in favour of innovation: "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door". This pious statement has inspired many more cynical derivatives, such as "If you build a better mousetrap, someone will build a better mouse," which means that no matter how good one is at stopping events such as robberies, cracking or other such conduct (or catching those who engage in it), someone is bound to find a way around it. Ironically, it should be noted that Maxim was an energetic propagator of his inventions and would certainly not have waited for people to "beat a path to his door."

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Mousetraps are also common in physical hurt comedy, and in this case are used when people sit on them or get fingers caught in them.

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Patents

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• – Mousetrap
• – Rat bell

Mice: MICE is an acronym for:...

Hiram Maxim: REDIRECT Hiram_Stevens_Maxim...

Maxim Gun: The Maxim gun was the first self-acting machine gun....

Mousetrap related Images and Photos (experimental)

Mouse Trap U-Build Game

Mousetrap Game

Mousetrap Cheese Chase U-Build Game