Search Results for: trapping

The Trap Audit Manual provides cunning strategies and expert tips to fine-tune your trapping networks, while the Trap Build Manual equips anyone with the know-how to construct their own traps.  The Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust (PFHCCT) actively assists communities in their region to protect native species from invasive predators. PFHCCT has developed two … Continue reading Empowering communities: Unleash your community’s trapping prowess with these manuals

New Zealanders join trapping groups for a number of reasons. They may want to protect our native species, leave our country in a better state for future generations or they may feel a strong sense of personal responsibility. Beyond the selfless motivations, joining a trapping group can be of great personal benefit. There are hundreds … Continue reading 5 reasons why it’s time to join your local trapping group

In early September, a unique summer visitor to Aotearoa begins to grace our shores, migrating from the tropics. The pīpīwharauroa (shining cuckoo) certainly make an impression with their intriguing behaviours. From unusual breeding strategies to quirky culinary tastes, here are 5 curious facts about the shining cuckoo. 1. You won’t see a shining cuckoo raising … Continue reading Mystery, migration and mucous membranes: 5 curious facts about the shining cuckoo

That little line above certain vowels makes a big difference when it comes to the pronunciation and meaning of te reo Māori. Illustrator Matt Russell takes a closer look at why tohutō (macron) matter when it comes to te reo taiao (language of the environment). Enable macrons on your phone (Android and Apple) and computer … Continue reading Comic: macrons matter

Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity extends far beyond our feathery friends. Prepare to be wowed by these five native species, from bizarre fuzzy weevils to very smelly bats. Elephant weevils – the fuzzy architects of the trees The elephant weevil is a strange critter found throughout New Zealand. This stout little insect is adorned with an … Continue reading 5 weird and wonderful native animals that aren’t birds

So, you’ve set your possum trap, hoping to make a dent in the possum population destroying your fruit trees and eating birds’ eggs and invertebrates in your backyard…but your trap remains untouched. It’s time to try our troubleshooting tips to turn your luck around: 1. Find the right spot First things first, let’s check your … Continue reading Troubleshooting tips: what to do if your possum trap isn’t catching any possums

Is peanut butter not attracting predators like it used to? Let’s shake things up with five lures that’ll make your trap the hottest dining spot for rats, stoats or possums. But first, we need to understand the feeding behaviour of the introduced predators we’re trying to trap. Rats are the ultimate omnivores. They don’t discriminate … Continue reading What’s on the menu? 5 lures that aren’t peanut butter

Every trapper has felt the same frustration at checking a trap and finding the bait gone, but the trap still set. Who is the culprit, and how can you stop them? Peanut butter, mayonnaise, Nutella and dried meat are tasty treats to lure in rats or possums, but they aren’t the only ones who enjoy … Continue reading Is your bait disappearing, but you’re catching nothing?

Are you a pro at spotting tūī and kererū? Here are five more native backyard birds to get to know. Use appearance, sounds and behaviours as clues for identification. Taking note of the birds in your backyard is more than just fun. The Garden Bird Survey needs you to identify and count birds to help … Continue reading What bird is in my backyard?

More kinds of toroa (albatross) breed in Aotearoa New Zealand, than anywhere else in the world. Get to know them this World Albatross Day and try our quiz. Predator free islands in our subantarctic region stand as the last remaining strongholds for toroa survival worldwide. Their breeding grounds are safe thanks to massive predator eradication … Continue reading A tour of toroa

At one point, possums in New Zealand rivaled the sheep population. Brought into New Zealand to start a fur trade in 1837, the brushtail possum population exploded beyond settlers’ wildest dreams (or nightmares) to an estimated peak of 70 million possums in the 1980s, same as sheep. They are found throughout the country, all the … Continue reading 7 surprising facts you should know about possums

We have some easy ways to set yourself (and your traps) up for success using trail cameras. Predator control specialist Cam Speedy’s five simple tips will improve your camera skills in no time. If you’re tired of empty traps, you’ve probably realised it’s time to expand your trapping toolkit. Wildlife biologist Cam Speedy has over four … Continue reading Smile for the camera: 5 tips for trail cameras

If you’re looking for a new feathery friend to obsess over, then look no further than the tīeke (saddleback). There’s more to them than striking black feathers, a chestnut saddle and ruby-red wattles. Here are five reasons this bird deserves a spot in your heart, in no particular order. 1. They are the ultimate underdogs … Continue reading 5 reasons the tīeke should be your favourite bird

Do you find puppets a bit weird? Are you mysterious? Love your family above all else? You might have more in common with takahē than you think. Survivors against the odds, there’s a lot we can learn from these New Zealand icons. April is takahē awareness month, we’ve compiled five life lessons from takahē: Always … Continue reading 5 life lessons from our takahē

The key to keeping track of your contribution to predator free 2050 is likely already in your pocket. You might even be using it to read this story. Logging when a trap goes snap may seem like a tiny drop in the ocean. But when combined with others in the community, it can create a … Continue reading Why does logging your trap results matter?

It’s Easter, and supermarkets are jam-packed with chocolate eggs. The association of these symbols of new life with Easter is imported from the northern hemisphere – most of our native species have already finished their egg-laying business as winter approaches. As you crack into yet another chocolate egg this long weekend, spare a thought for … Continue reading Quiz: Guess the egg…

The cicada chorus can signal the beginning of a long hot summer. With various native species, we are lucky to hear their calls in almost every corner of the country. From bizarre fungal enemies to world record titles, here are some of the most exciting facts about Aotearoa New Zealand’s cicadas. They’ll be sure to … Continue reading Hot bug summer: 5 cool facts about New Zealand’s cicadas

As birds lose their old feathers to make way for new healthy ones, they are stressed, vulnerable and grumpy. What can you do about it? Plenty.  Imagine having to change your clothes in public, at the park, the bush or the beach. Then imagine it taking a few days, even weeks, to entirely change your … Continue reading Naked & Afraid: help birds during moulting season

From possum nightclubs to garden transformations, these were the most popular stories published by Predator Free New Zealand Trust this year. 1. It’s business time: stoat mating mania and what you can do about it “From the moment they open their eyes as babies, female stoats are almost certainly already pregnant.” That’s an opening line … Continue reading Most read posts of 2022

Gift inspiration for buying for yourself or the wildlife lover in your life. Not just nature-themed, many of these present ideas give back to conservation too, which means you’ll surely end up on Santa’s nice list.  Predator Free New Zealand cap Pick up the peak of fashion with our newly released cap to keep the … Continue reading Seasons tweetings: give a nature-friendly gift this year

Tamper-proof bait stations are easy to use and are a great addition to your backyard trapping toolkit. They’ll help you keep introduced predators under control and limit the amount of toxin that gets out into the environment. If you’re keen to set one up but don’t know where to start, or want to make your … Continue reading Quick ways to improve your bait stations

This annual wall planner is full of useful information to help you tailor your predator control to seasonal changes in the environment and maximise your effectiveness. Information includes what predators might be up to in your landscape at different times of the year including what trees are attractive to possums, when birds are breeding and … Continue reading A new monthly reminder: the predator control calendar you can’t do without

Why do some traps not get much traffic while it’s rush hour at others? We put the question to predator control specialist Cam Speedy to learn why trap placement is so important. It turns out introduced predators prefer a nice trail walk to a rugged bush bash just like we do. Because we rarely see … Continue reading Highways, not byways: increase traffic to your traps

Predator control specialist Cam Speedy knows a thing or two about trapping after 40 years in the business. And like Cam, the DOC 200 has stood the test of time. Over the last couple of decades, DOC 200s have been put to the test up and down the country in harsh, rugged conditions. When it … Continue reading Get the most out of your DOC 200 trap

To get the most out of your Victor double-set, it’s all about sales and marketing. Based on the success that double-set DOC 200s have, the Victor double-set trap is specially designed to house two Victor professional rat traps. Tunnels like these are a critical part of the trapping toolkit – keeping traps away from native … Continue reading Double trouble: Victor double-set trap

In Aotearoa New Zealand Māori are ‘tangata whenua’ – people of the land. This reflects the importance of te taiao (the environment) to Māori identity, culture, and tikanga.  Te reo Māori is shaped by the unique environment and wildlife. There is a depth of meaning to te reo Māori words. Often a one or two-word … Continue reading Why kākāpō are called kākāpō and other wildlife names