Abstract: A binary animal trap comprising a frame housing and a separate jaw carriage adapted to be releasably coupled to the housing. An internal, primary trigger assembly may be set to temporarily, yieldably latch the jaw carriage within the frame assembly. Thrust springs which are maintained in a compressed position when the trap is in the "set" mode will rapidly expel the carriage when the trap is triggered. The carriage preferably comprises a pair of cooperating jaw members which are activated by jaw springs released by a second trigger system only after activation of the primary trigger assembly. When the trap is in the "set" mode the carriage jaw members rest upon the primary trigger means, and contact by an animal with the jaws activates the primary trigger. Substantially contemporaneously with expulsion of the jaw carriage from the separate housing, inertial contact of the jaws with a portion of the jaw springs results in complete release of the jaw springs, forcibly snapping the jaws shut.