Coronation Tree Trap Trial
Pukenui Trust, Tia Kina, NRC
There has been a lot of rain in June, coupled with Steve being sick for 2 weeks, which has significantly hampered trapping activity. However we still managed to get the remainder of the 100 traps out into the field over the course of the month and 63 pests caught.
NB: Once again as we have been deploying traps throughout June, the percentage is hard to calculate accurately due to numbers in the field constantly changing. June’s figures are based on 85 Victor, 10 D-Rat, and 10 Waiarohia Stream Victor traps. July has started with all 100 Victor treetraps in the field, along with the D-Rat and Waiarohia traps, so future figures will be more accurate.
RESULTS (Includes mice as well as rats)
February
Strikes = 8
March
Strikes = 28 (57% for the month)
April
Strikes = 27 (55% for the month)
May
70 Victor traps = 54
10 D-Rat traps = 5
80 TOTAL (Pukenui) = 59 (73% for the month)
10 Waiarohia Stream = 11 (110% for the month)
GRAND TOTAL = 70 (77% for the month)
June
85 Victor traps = 48
10 D-Rat traps = 5
95 TOTAL (Pukenui) = 53 (56% for the month)
10 Waiarohia Stream = 10 (100% for the month)
GRAND TOTAL = 63 (60% for the month)
TOTAL
Strikes = 196 (Predators caught since trial began in February).
6 more rats were recorded on 1st June which has put us over 200 pests caught so far
NB: A point of interest. Pukenui Forest now has a total of 956 traps of various sorts spread across
the entire forest.