Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for electrocuting pests such as gophers, rats and the like. The present invention employs a resistive switch that uses the same electrodes to sense the presence of a pest therebetween as are used to electrocute the pest. The resistive switch senses a leakage current flowing through the pest and into the reference electrode of its electronic circuit and uses the presence of this current to trigger the generation of a high voltage and current that is of sufficient magnitude to dispatch the pest. A timer deactivates the generator after a predetermined time has elapsed to save battery power. A status indicator is provided that does not consume power unless activated by a user. The invention will not retrigger until reset by turning it off and then on again, thereby activating the power on reset circuit.

Abstract: A pest electrocution device includes a mechanical portion and an electronic portion. The mechanical portion includes a base member with sidewalls defining a basin, a flexible sheet member secured on the base member, and a conductive plate member which is attached on the top face of the flexible sheet member and has at least part of it not overlapping the shoulder of the sidewalls. A pair of opposing metal contacts are respectively fastened on the bottom face of the flexible sheet member and on the base member. The metal contacts are coupled to the trigger input of the electronic circuit portion while the conductive plate member is coupled to the high voltage output of the electronic circuit portion. The electronic circuit portion includes a timer for producing a timing and control signal and a high voltage generator for generating a high voltage current. The electronic circuit portion further includes a latch circuit which records the status of the device for the user to check the status at any time.