<p>To safely set a snap trap, place a pen or pencil below the paddle when engaging the kill bar. The pen will hold the paddle up and prevent the trap from tripping accidentally. After you have placed the trap in its desired location, gently remove the pen to set the trap. 
Photo by Matt Frye, NYSIPM
</p>
To learn more about rodent control, see our "Mice and Rats" webpage: &lt;a href="<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugging-you/rodents/">https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugging-you/rodents/</a>" rel="noreferrer nofollow"&gt;nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugging-you/rodents/&lt;/a&gt;
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/99758165@N06">NY State IPM Program  at Cornell University</a> from New York, USA
CC BY 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/99758165@N06/10069567453/">Setting a Trap</a>