This trap is a big improvement over the old type. No danger of getting your fingers broken or the vermin getting wounded and running with trap. Cleans up nicely under running water. I miss the sweet sound of the old spring loaded trap zapping a rat in the middle of the night. This trap is quieter but does the job well. Recommend you fasten it down when setting.

Used peanuts, loaded from the hole in top cover, shell them and wedge them vertically. Tied string through predrilled hole and secured it to handle on barn door. Usually I need to drill holes myself to screw to a board or utilize an anchor line. In the past I have lost traps, other critters drag off their precaught meal. Trap has been immediately effectve, 2 large chipmunks and a mouse in 3 days. Only concern is how the unit will hold up in below zero weather. Other similar looking traps will break the plastic hinge and destroy itself when snapping shut in cold weather because the plastic becomes brittle and looses flexibility. If this trap proves to be made from a better grade plastic that holds up in freezing temps, then I would rate it with 5 stars. Overall this is a real nice disposal method for mid to small size rodents.

One of the traps is positioned about 6 inches from the opening of my barn door. In about 2 weeks it has killed 5 chipmunks, 9 mice, 2 voles and I red squirrel. It is necessary to tether the trap, a few times I found the line stretched out. The red squirrel was the only one that it did not kill immediately, the front arm was caught. That trap would of most definitely been missing with a more than necessary suffering animal. The red squirrels are so incredibly quick, they are rarely caught in my other Victor Professional traps, (yellow pad). Yet this trap captured it because of the heavy quick acting spring mechanism. My biggest concern is how the plastic will hold up in below zero temperature, the other traps with similar designs literally disintegrate themselves when triggered and are unusable there after. Overall these traps are so sensitive that the larger traps will kill small and large rodents. Never have I owned a more effective trap than this one. Peanuts wedged tightly into the cup through the hole in the top with a bit of "chumming" around the trap works great. The easy release of the trap is also a great convenience. The crows and hawks love what is left on the feeding table for them. It will be nice to have a rodent free barn and house this winter. Good Luck.