It’s a Trap

Thanks for showing me how to safely un-set a Flipping Timmy - I had been setting it off with a stick.

Pest Free Leigh recently ran two Trapping Skills Workshops on traps, baits and the correct setting and maintenance of traps. Many of those who attended were surprised at the variety of traps and baits available. Leigh pest trappers will all be familiar with the black plastic snap traps that we give out complete with stencilled wooden box. They are cheap, easy to set, last surprisingly well, and, of course, they work. However, in some circumstances there are other traps that can do a better job. For example, Ship Rats spend a lot of time in trees: D-Rat traps are a type of snap-trap that can be easily screwed to a branch and come with a yellow hood that protects against birds (or kids) getting trapped. If you want to catch more than just rats (and mice) then the DoC200 is the go-to. These catch rats, weasels and stoats but require good setting technique and good maintenance.

For possums, Timms or Flipping Timmy traps are tried and tested. Whether it’s a DoC200, or a snap-trap, once a pest is caught it is out of action until the trap is cleared and re-set. Not so good if there are large numbers of pests or if you’re away a lot. In those situations, self Resetting (and Re-baiting) traps like the A24 and the AT220 come into their own. They’re more expensive but definitely serve a purpose.

People who came to the Trapping Skills Workshop foudn it really helpful to have traps there to practice with.

The website of Predator Free NZ predatorfreenz.org has more information about trapping, or come along to our next Trapping Workshop. You can also contact us on our new Trapping Hotline email address trapping@pestfreeleigh.co.nz.