Thread: Predator Free

Originally Posted by 57jl

Wild cats suck I get my shear

yeah man they're on the hitlist

Hi @ANTSMAN, awesome work!
I'm currently travelling through NZ and was thinking of maybe getting involved in some sort of volunteering in conservation long the way. Do you think there would be a way to help out for a couple of days at a time or so?

Thank you, cheers

Originally Posted by gonehunting

Hi @ANTSMAN, awesome work!
I'm currently travelling through NZ and was thinking of maybe getting involved in some sort of volunteering in conservation long the way. Do you think there would be a way to help out for a couple of days at a time or so?

Thank you, cheers

pretty much check the below

https://predatorfreenz.org/about-us/national-map/

shows all Orgs affiliated with Pred free NZ, should be able to get hold of someone in the areas you're going to.
Also maybe check Facebook-Insta all /most of those Orgs need volunteers and have social media pages for the are you're going to.

Also don't be disheartened if you get slow or no response- this time of year, but also, these are mostly volunteer orgs, so the pred trapping is a hobby to most.

good luck!
Ants

Originally Posted by ANTSMAN

Hi all- I started volunteering with Predator Free Titahi Bay in Wellington around June this year. We are a small peninsula north west of Porirua.
This has been a sorta 2 or 3 person operation for many years, some people come and usually go, life- work, relationships etc get in the way.
So we have built our reserves trapping team from 3 or 4 up to near 16 people now. Monitoring rat tunnel trap lines weekly in reserves and parks.
I've pretty much inherited the planning and implementation of the reserves trapping side of things in our group as well as making timber paling rat tunnels to put the plastic traps in, installing them into the planned lines, training new trap liners and getting them started, so they can then monitor the liens themselves.

Its a whole lotta fun, and its in ma backyard, and I've learnt a TON of stuff.

Every area/suburb in Aotearoa has a group.
If ya looking for something easy close to home to get into, this is a great thing.

We are all working towards being predator free by 2050.

Cheers
Ants
antsman70 on IG


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

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 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.

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 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....

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

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

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