These traps are scattered all around NZ by the council. You might find these traps on walks such as Shine falls, Tangoio falls and many others. Some of these traps kill and some just capture. On walks such as Shine falls there are arrows pointing to traps that will most likely be kill traps. These traps are used to protect the eggs and living animals such as kiwis, lizards, birds and many other species of wildlife. The pests reduce the amount of food, berries and insects so our native animals don’t have any food and will soon die. Also these pests destroy gardens, fields and many other things our native animals and birds use to make their homes.
Names of traps
These traps are either going to kill the mustelid / prey or capture it. The names of the kill traps traps are:
The warrior kill trap is a trap that cuts the mustelids head off while it's trying to get the blue bait. The possum master trap is like the warrior kill trap just it’s a mousetrap on the inside. The KBL tunnel trap crushes the mustelids head. The Fenn trap flattens the mustelids neck. The DOC series trap crushes the mustelid.
These are the capture traps:
The box treadle trap can have the bait move any direction and it will trigger the door to close. Havahart traps close instantly, it only takes the push of a button. Finally the leg hold trap is pretty much a bear trap, only it injures and doesn’t kill the mustelid / prey.
Where to hide traps
Here are some ideal places to set these traps: rivers, lakes, creeks, walkways, roads / vehicle tracks, farms, fence lines in the country, on farms, rabbit burrows / warrens, chicken coops
When you're setting the trap try to hide it behind a bush and somewhere in an open paddock / field.
Setting the trap
When setting these traps, use the following as bait: eggs, fish, rabbit meat, hare meat, cat food, dehydrated ferret bait.
Here is a quick tutorial on how to set the box treadle trap:
Make sure the trap isn’t set
Attach bait to nail or place on the wooden pedestal
Make sure the trap is on the ground level
Carefully use you're hand and pull the wire setting loop. Continue pulling it up until it has been pulled higher than the trigger arm, allowing it to drop onto the treadle
To complete the process release the pressure slowly allowing the bottom of the trigger arm to ride the treadle and catch on the sear
To unset the trap do the procedure in reverse.
Tactics for trapping
With these traps you need to replace the bait daily and never move the trap to be more effective. Once you have caught a mustelid use gloves to rub the scent of the the mustelid on the gloves and wipe on the trap. Scuff up the soil so it’s fresh and will attract mustelids.
Pros / Cons of using traps
Cons
The trap could catch kiwis and other wild life instead of mustelids / prey. May not kill the mustelid / prey instantly and could leave it dying for a day. These traps have to be reset every day.
Pros
They reduce the amount of pests so we can help our native animals fight back. They are better than 1080 poison because any animal could eat the 1080 poison and it can get into our waterways.
Hopefully you’ve learned what these traps are used for and all the different types of traps. Plus now you know how to set them, what to use for bait and some tactics. I really hope you learnt something.
