027 550 0611Practical pest control when at the Tangihua Lions Lodge
Pest control is vital ensure our unique native species survive. Much of our teaching resources emphasis conservation-pest control and students really enjoy this aspect of staying at the lodge.
The Timms traps donated by the Northland Regional Council NRC through our Tangihua Community Pest Control Area (TCPCA) and tracks funded by World Wide Funding WWF
The aim of the trap line is to
- To provide a safe, hands-on, outdoor learning experience to encourage students to engage in conservation by trapping possums, rats and mustelids.
- To rid an area of possums, rats, cats and mustelids. This will allow kauri snail, invertebrates and other flora and fauna to recover so they can be studied and monitored by students.
- To demonstrate to students and parents how easy it is to set up an effective trap line for pest control.
- To use the trap line as monitoring lines for further study and to teach students about monitoring pests – for more information visit Monitoring activity Rats and possums
The reality our forests face, Time to help them out
The reality of possums by Dean Baigent-Mercer Forest and bird Northland
For a download of a PDF of Traplines for schools click here
This has become a very popular activity with schools. Many conservation minded Mums and Dads are more than happy to join in
Our Trappers
Here is a video shot by Hunua Schools, Nola Whites Class. They were donated a Gopro by xxx which added another exciting dimension to their stay.
This is a student safely setting a trap. When we do the tutoring we cover a wide range of Health and safety issues including bush craft, track walking etc.
The strike rate is between 10% and 20% of the traps set.
Setting a Steve Alan trap
- Ensure the handle on top of the station is up
- Put the bait in the back of the station
- Pull the handle down and hit the lever into the washer
- Apply the lure to the board
Treat with extreme caution
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- Hikurangi School students about to set up the trap line for other schools to use
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- Hikurangi school students setting up the trap line
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- Hikurangi school students standing by a freshly set bait station
Back ground
The Tangihua Lions Lodge Trust has set out to rid 1600ha of rodents, possums, mustelids and cats so the native flora and fauna can regenerate.
We have set up with farmers the Tangihua Community Pest Control Area (TCPCA). This is on the boundary of the DOC land around the lodge. We have set up a pest control area of 400ha on DOC land in the ranges surrounding the lodge. We have used bait stations for possums and rats and traps for mustelids and cats.
In the area around the lodge, to minimise students coming in contact with a bait station, we have set up an area of traps. It is important we maintain a high level of pest control as this area will become a high conservation area available for students to study the flora and fauna. Once we eradicate pests from here we should be able to keep them out.
Method
The traps are a spring box trap provided by the Northland Regional Council . They are set up at one per hectare on a grid system so they are 100m apart in all directions. This is the same as the bait stations in the rest of the project.
They are connected by a trapline.
The traps operate by placing a bait on to a trigger wire in the trap. When the bait is moved a strong spring snaps closed an arm instantly killing the possum. It is certified as a humane killer.
A person over 16 should handle the traps or be in charge. Once the traps are set, no one else goes near them unless they have been unset by an adult.
Never place your fingers or hands inside the trap at any time except to bait it when it is upside down and unset.
How to tell if a trap is set
A string at the back of the trap is pulled to set the trap. When the string is long and loose it has been set as can be seen with the top trap.
To unset a trap and release a dead possum
To unset a set trap do not ‘dry fire’ the trap by kicking it etc., as this will damage the trap and shorten its life.
Hold the setting cord tight and upwards, this will ensure the trap will not go off.
Reach under the trap and give the very end of the trigger wire a knock and the trap will go off. This can be done with a stick. Slowly ease the string until there is no pressure in a controlled movement. It is easy to do for an adult.
To release a dead possum
Place hand on trap and a foot on the possum and then pull the back of the string until the trap is set and pull the possum out.
Trap lines
Time to set all the traps – About an hour and a half
Trap lines
There are a number of options for splitting the class.
- Traps 1–10 are easy to access and just off walking tracks
- Traps 11–21 are set on bush tracks
Disposal of pests
Return the possums to the lodge and take a trophy photo. They can be taken home for plucking etc or …
Requirements
Bait for traps – apples and peanut butter. Standard walking in the bush gear. Cinnamon lure to be smeared around the trap (see video). A small backpack.
Trapping
As you approach each trap
- Traps off tracks and clearings are marked as per photo
- The trapping trails are marked with pink trail markers leading to the traps
- Each trap is numbered
- Make sure the trap has been sprung – there will only be a small amount of string showing
- Remove the pegs and turn the trap over
- Bait – we use a quarter of an apple and peanut butter or some flour mixed with cinnamon by the trap entrance
- Slide bait on to the trigger wire up to the bend. Maybe smear a bit of peanut butter on it as well. The trigger wire has the coiled section at one end
- Carefully turn the trap over and peg to the ground – best it is on flat ground
- Pull the cord until the striker arm is set and the trap is now live
- Sprinkle some cinnamon around the station and leave it
- Every morning – check traps for possums and unset the trap if you are concerned about non-target animals such as students
- Always leave the traps unset when you have finished. A possum in the trap for several days will ruin the trap
How to make your possum lure by Steve Henderson, Northland Regional Council
Ingredients for the trap line in the ranges
- 3/4 of a kilo of flour
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1/4 packet of cinnamon – 4 teaspoons
Best put into a dry plastic 2L milk bottle
Give the tree and trap a generous smear, you will find the students like it as well and it can be used as pancake or fritter mixture with apples.
Overall goal
A significant area of natural forest in the centre of Northland will once again become a fully functional ecosystem with locally extinct species being reintroduced and able to spread elsewhere.
We have at present the capacity for 1500 students per annum. Involving schools in an active relevant conservation program plus building a range of teaching resources will ensure the program will be sustainable. This will also positively influence future generations to not only be conservationists but to enjoy the great NZ outdoors.
Location
The Tangihua Ranges are in the centre of Northland, visible from Whangarei and Dargaville in the Tangihua Ecological District.
The lodge (Blue Circle) is on the south side of the ranges. The entrance to the lodge is 1095 Omana Rd, Kaipara, 34.8km from Whangarei. The access road is 3km, putting the lodge well within the forest.
