Abstract: An animal trap wherein the housing is formed of sheet metal and the trap door is of a mesh construction wherein the animal can in no way gain access to one carrying the trap or one disposed adjacent to the trap. At the same time, the animal may be identified through the open-mesh trap door. The trap door is normally disposed in a recessed position underlying the vertical wall; and, when released by a control mechanism actuated by a trap pan, the door will automatically fall by gravity to a trap-closing position. The door is then locked in this trap-closing position by means of a latch rod which has a roughened or threaded surface which interlocks with a clip. The housing, being formed of sheet metal and being substantially imperforate, may be utilized for the purpose of destroying the animal either by drowning or gassing.