A live trap for capturing an animal by its paw includes a hollow body with a ground stake. A lever assembly, jaw, latch, and trigger are pivotally mounted on the body for movement between a released position and a set position. A trapper can squeeze the lever to automatically set the trap without touching the latch or the trigger. A latch guide on the lever and a curved surface on the trigger direct the latch into retentive engagement with a notch in the trigger for setting the trap. The latch is released by an animal withdrawing its paw from a position behind the trigger, where bait resides.
