An animal trap features entrance encouraging mechanism for urging an animal into an enclosure of the trap. The mechanism features a pushing unit pivotally supported outside the interior space of the enclosure adjacent an access-way that opens into same. The pushing unit is pivotal about an axis generally parallel to a plane of the access-way for movement between a withdrawn position in which the access-way is unobstructed and a working position in which the pushing unit substantially obstructs the access-way. An actuator coupled to the pushing unit is triggered by an animal detection device at an approach area outside the enclosure within a travel path followed by the pushing unit, whereby the pushing unit urges the animal toward and through the access-way into the interior space of the enclosure. A one way gate prevents exit of the trapped animal after return of the pushing unit to the withdrawn position.
