## No, that's not a ship. Yes, that's what I did this morning, as the encroaching winter sends many animals in search of a safe haven to survive. Last year there was no issue. But this year some have come, and might be gone now that I plugged up the holes they made.

### The version I found online was with a metal coat-hanger, which I have not owned in at least a decade. So I improvised and made my own design, done with things laying around. No need for me to buy anything, just the way I like it LOL.

<a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bx7pL"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/1-main64492.jpg" alt="1-main64492.jpg" border="0" /></a>

Click on the images to enlarge them.

# Instructions

# 1. All of the pieces you need. 

I already put together the thing before I thought of doing a DIY how-to with pictures, sorry. You need a 2x4 of sufficient length for the bottle and an additional 2.5 inches to cut off for the bottle stopper. Screw or nail some cardboard into the 2x4 to start.
<center><center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxQqS"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/2-all71515.md.jpg" alt="2-all71515.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 2. Two similar sized pieces for the side support.
<center><center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxyEl"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/3-twopieces5f584.md.jpg" alt="3-twopieces5f584.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 3. Measure and cut into the base.

Make your measurements smaller in width than the actual cardboard. You want it to be tight and not move. Also, make a little 1/8 inch extra length on each end for some shifting power to adjust later.
<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bx1DJ"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/4-lineitup0177c.md.jpg" alt="4-lineitup0177c.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 4. Put sides into cuts.

Just slide them in, they should be tight.
<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bx5FT"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/5-oneside88a75.md.jpg" alt="5-oneside88a75.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxM00"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/6-bothsides2d800.md.jpg" alt="6-bothsides2d800.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 5. Make two holes in the bottle. 

Where? You need to balance your bottle on a pencil to find the midpoint. From the midpoint, move 1/4 to 1/2 an inch towards the opening of the bottle, and that is your mark to make a hole. Line yourself up and make another hole on the opposite side.
<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxXGa"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/8-bottlehole3d90a.md.jpg" alt="8-bottlehole3d90a.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxhi8"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/9-bottleshaftb89dc.md.jpg" alt="9-bottleshaftb89dc.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 6. Make hole for shaft in support cardboard.

To get the proper height for the bottle placehold inthe trap, you need to have it 1/2 inch above the base for it to pivot.

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxTus"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/10-bottlespacerf59f3.md.jpg" alt="10-bottlespacerf59f3.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxaae"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/7-shaftfd615.md.jpg" alt="7-shaftfd615.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxYr1"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/11-bottlemount5e11e.md.jpg" alt="11-bottlemount5e11e.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxDqP"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/12-bottlemount28dad3.md.jpg" alt="12-bottlemount28dad3.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 7. Add the block at the right angle.

This part was a bit annoying.

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxSEU"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/13-block19797c.md.jpg" alt="13-block19797c.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

You have to angle the block parallel to the bottle opening when it's in the down position. You can't have it too close or else it will hit the block going up or down. So there is a sweet spot to find.

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxVH7"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/14-block2bf729.md.jpg" alt="14-block2bf729.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

I used some extra cardboard and made a shimmy to adjust the angle of the block. Then I drilled a screw into the block to keep it place.

<center><a href="http://www.steemimg.com/image/bxWFw"><img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/15-block3946f4.md.jpg" alt="15-block3946f4.md.jpg" border="0"></a></center>

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# 8. Final stability support brace on top. 
(steemimg, limits 15 images per hour, sorry these are not medium size from another host)

Put a piece of cardboard on the top two supports that hold the shaft, and mark where they line up. Then cut it out. Again, make the cuts smaller, so that its tight. My first cut on one side was too loose, so I hade to o it better on the other.

<center><img src="http://i.imgur.com/kRki58B.jpg" /></center>

Then you're ready to mount the top brace support so that the side support walls don't move around and wobble from the weight of the bottle.

<center><img src="http://i.imgur.com/V9Smjmj.jpg" /></center>

This is what it looks like from the rear.

<center><img src="http://i.imgur.com/71XK8Rf.jpg" /></center>

And once again from the front.

<img src="http://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/11/26/1-main64492.jpg" alt="1-main64492.jpg" border="0" />

## I hope you find this DIY how-to build a mouse trap useful :)

Last thing is to put some pieces of cracker in it, and find a place for it.

### I caught one last night and let it outside. But it took me a while to corner it. Not fun to waste time on that. Definitely build one of these instead of catching a cornered mouse LOL. Let the mouse do the work and trap itself where you an easily release it outside.

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#### Thank you for your time and attention! I appreciate the knowledge reaching more people. Take care. Peace.

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@krnel
2016-11-26, 1:33pm