Thread: Bird Predator Control

To get my 68 tails i run 2 trap lines a local line and a high country line.

My high country line is to try and protect the crested grebe. My local line is to try and help local birds. Locally we have a few fantails esp in winter and waxeyes. Bellbirds are close by but we have seen none where we live. We also have finches, nesting mallards, quail and odd pheasant. Roughly the tail split is 50/50 split between local and the high country line. I have 50 traps in the high country and roughly the same locally. Most are 150s with the balance 200s. I also have several Victor Pros locally. Its a waste of time having them in the high country as mice steal the bait and or trip the trap. I am currently catching truck loads of rats in my high country traps with the mast year even though there is minimal beech where i trap. Locally it appears h hogs are the go to animal at present.

My main bait is eggs as they dont get moused unless they are cracked. I try and replace my eggs every 3 weeks. Winter is tough on eggs in the high country as they crack when they freeze which could be days on end. I have tried the Erayze type bait but mice give it a hard time unless you use a mouse excluder. I have tried dried salted duck and pukeko that i either hunt during the season or get as road kill. What i have found extremely successful is duck feathers. I place them in the trap end of the box so the treadle/plate is completely covered. Feathers have a great smell for a day or 2, maybe more ? The downside is not every trap is suited to feathers, if the trap is exposed to rain they go soggy and loose all the smell and can interfere with the operation of the trap, if the trap is in a windy location they blow out. I guess 1 in 15 places where i set my traps is ok for the feather treatment ? However those traps catch mustelids. I only run single set traps, no double sets. I do like the idea of double sets but roughly 1/3 of my mustelid catch would be weasels.. i do wonder if you can set a double set trap finely enough for weasels ? I often catch stoats in consequtive traps which suggests they are travelling in pairs or groups and that is where double sets work well catching the 2nd animal. Another thing i have done is cut a notch in the top of my trap box, i tie a piece of orange flagging tape to the handle on the kill bar and it comes out of the notch , does this make sense ? i can then see if the trap has gone off from quite a distance... if the flagging tape isnt showing the trap has sprung. My local traps i check pretty much daily as i bike past them looking for the flagging tape, its very quick and time efficient.

I am close to 2 other trapping groups and look frequently at Friends of Rotoiti site. I love getting feedback from other trappers and find it extremely motivational. I very much value time outs input into my trapping and thank him for posting the photo of my tails.