Thread: Predator Free

Also, adding to the above- I've come to realise there are a fair amount of people in communities that are out there trapping/rats/mice/mustelids in residential bush reserves, with no external organised assistance, meaning they're doing what they do on their own , in their backyards so ta speak. This is huge- the more people start to catch on, and go "do" something about the problem, the more effect we will have-this is aimed at the negative people out there sitting back typing "pred free2050 will never happen- ya cant this or cant that- it will never happen".

Originally Posted by TeRei

Cunning way to anchor that trap. Cool . Nice work.

yeah mate- just "heavy" carrying 400mm warratahs through a bush reserve- screws-drill etc makes the DOC200 reset was easier tho- if its anchored into the ground.

Originally Posted by ANTSMAN

yeah mate- just "heavy" carrying 400mm warratahs through a bush reserve- screws-drill etc makes the DOC200 reset was easier tho- if its anchored into the ground.

The alpine lines I help with use lengths of rebar bashed into the ground, with a saddle clamp fixing them to the side of the box. Bit lighter than a waratah, and seems to secure them well enough.

Originally Posted by ANTSMAN

yah- there's a lot of people "love" hedgehogs for some reason, and a lot can manage the thought of killing feral cats, sorta 10%vegan people i reckon , meat eaters(supermarket meat) but cant handle the thought of anyone killing anything.......

I have 3 hedgehog traps around the property, I've caught quite a few but I'm worried about their inability to swim...so I try and teach them, unfortunately I've had zero success....could be due to the heavy rock in the top of the bucket maybe?!.

I get annoyed when a post comes up on the local community page "I have a baby hedgehog - how do I care for it" people don't like it when I suggest swimming lessons, or when ya suggest to them to look at the teeth on an adult hedgehog and think about what those teeth do to snails, skinks etc.

On a side note I checked the traps a few days ago and there was a bloody stoat inside one of them...quite pleased about that!

The whole community based predator free thing seems to be getting legs. I literally had a meeting with one of guys in our community who is really good at managing people, planning, etc, to get the Te Horo trapping underway.
Being largely rural, a lot of trapping and shooting already takes place. But just a handful of properties not doing their bit means there are large corridors for critters to move through. The thought that making it easy to get involved, shown how to use the respective traps, and given traps at no cost, will mean there should be a a noticeable uptake of those actively involved.

We are very well aware of the impact of trapping and cats in our suburb. Death threats, police, social media uproar from around the world, all because a pet cat was caught, and later release unharmed. In our case easier to just leave feral cats off the list of predators.

@ANTSMAN - do you have any advise for those starting out? Things like how you manage records of catches, location of traps etc.

Originally Posted by Twodiffs

I have 3 hedgehog traps around the property, I've caught quite a few but I'm worried about their inability to swim...so I try and teach them, unfortunately I've had zero success....could be due to the heavy rock in the top of the bucket maybe?!.

I get annoyed when a post comes up on the local community page "I have a baby hedgehog - how do I care for it" people don't like it when I suggest swimming lessons, or when ya suggest to them to look at the teeth on an adult hedgehog and think about what those teeth do to snails, skinks etc.

On a side note I checked the traps a few days ago and there was a bloody stoat inside one of them...quite pleased about that!

excellent! great result with the stoat!

Originally Posted by quentin

The whole community based predator free thing seems to be getting legs. I literally had a meeting with one of guys in our community who is really good at managing people, planning, etc, to get the Te Horo trapping underway.
Being largely rural, a lot of trapping and shooting already takes place. But just a handful of properties not doing their bit means there are large corridors for critters to move through. The thought that making it easy to get involved, shown how to use the respective traps, and given traps at no cost, will mean there should be a a noticeable uptake of those actively involved.

We are very well aware of the impact of trapping and cats in our suburb. Death threats, police, social media uproar from around the world, all because a pet cat was caught, and later release unharmed. In our case easier to just leave feral cats off the list of predators.

@ANTSMAN - do you have any advise for those starting out? Things like how you manage records of catches, location of traps etc.

yeah mate- records- most/all in NZ
use Trap.nz website- create a login for yourself- then search for projects close to you- then ask to have access- or do same but can start you own project- and maybe get people close by to join,,,,

Trap.nz is a great tool- was revamped a couple years ago, so functions way better now for recording trap checks-kills-sex-size-baits used... yada yada.
Easiest is prolly to join an exisiting group- the one you mentioned in Te Horo, request access, meet people get on board, start trapping in ya backyard, then traplines.I did this May last year and discovered Im now the pusher behind our projects Trap.nz system.
All traps recorded in a project you have access to on Trap.nz can be found by using the app while in the field.

here's a shot of our project in Titahi Bay- can see all traps and traplines =coloured lines. I had to downsize it hugely to get it uploaded.

320 odd backyard traps in our suburb, dating back to 2017 ish- most are likely defunct, not there, not being checked, rotten as.... that's our biggest issue right now- auditing "all" of those backyarders to see what sup- and deleting them if not there,,, which will apply to probably most/90% or more.
People get bored-move on- change circumstances....

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

The alpine lines I help with use lengths of rebar bashed into the ground, with a saddle clamp fixing them to the side of the box. Bit lighter than a waratah, and seems to secure them well enough.

yep I've seen this method on one of our lines where Greater Welly Regional Council guys have placed traps on bait lines.

Just joined Auckland central parks animal pest control project, targeting possums and rats with none poisonous baits (peanut butter for rats, cinnamon dusted apples for possums)

Get my trap line next month in the Waitarua wetland....let's go

Originally Posted by Scouser

Just joined Auckland central parks animal pest control project, targeting possums and rats with none poisonous baits (peanut butter for rats, cinnamon dusted apples for possums)

Get my trap line next month in the Waitarua wetland....let's go

Shit yeah mate , bloody well done!

I volunteer on one down here, we get a few University kids turning up to help, initially they won’t pull a dead rat out and are shocked that we catch hedgehogs but explain the damage they do and they come around, after a couple trap clearings they start to clear the traps and get into it.
@ANTSMAN we use waratahs too @StrikerNZ do you have a photo of clamp to box

Something like this, in whatever diameter is appropriate. They seem to be tight enough on the rebar and provide enough friction to generally keep the box in place. A determined person might be able to lever/wrench the box free, but it’s more to keep them secure in snow around where I trap.

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/hydro...-grey/p/162620

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

I volunteer on one down here, we get a few University kids turning up to help, initially they won’t pull a dead rat out and are shocked that we catch hedgehogs but explain the damage they do and they come around, after a couple trap clearings they start to clear the traps and get into it.
@ANTSMAN we use waratahs too @StrikerNZ do you have a photo of clamp to box

yeah thats good as aye, that the uni kids get into it

I am a coordinator for a predator free group that is small village and rural and the thing I find important is keeping in touch with the 50 odd trappers we have. At the end of each month I send out an email with a bit of 'news' in it and we welcome any new trappers and I also ask for captures for the month just past which are logged on Trap NZ, if you caught nothing I still want a "we caught zero". Anyone who doesnt respond a couple of months in a row gets an email asking are you still using the trap ? If not we want it back. It is amazing the number that start out with a hiss and a roar and then find out they are not catching a rat every half hour and lose interest and dont bother using the trap again. We have a big rat competition.. 420mm is the longest rat so far.

If you have tiger traps you keep your mouth shut re captures.