Some top trapping tips
Our team is currently in Phase 2 of our plan to remove rats, possums, weasels and stoats from Wellington. We’ve learned a lot and wanted to share some special tips to help out your backyard or community trapping.
Keep it fresh
Would you want to eat dry or mouldy peanut butter? Neither would a rat! Keeping your bait fresh makes it more attractive to rats and mice. This will improve your trapping chances. It’s also worth offering some ‘free’ bait in the tunnel in front of the trap – this encourages them into the tunnel.
Think like a rat!
- Rats and mice like to feel safe and don’t normally like wide open spaces. They’ll stick close to walls, plants and fences – so that’s a good place to put your trap.
- Rodents also like food and water. If you have a compost pile or fruit trees, your resident rats will likely spend some time there – try putting your trap there. Alongside a stream or creek is another good place.
- Ensure the trap box is firmly placed so it doesn’t move or rock when a rat enters the box – this can put them off going into the tunnel.
Location, location, location
Have a good look around your property or trap line. Tree stumps, dense bush cover, cape ivy and old retaining walls are all favourite rat spots. They’ll be happier there than a patch of open concrete. Make your hard work count by getting your traps in their neighbourhood.
Keep it moving
We know motivation can waver when your trap sits untouched for months. Maybe it’s time for a move. Is there somewhere else rats might be living? They’ll take some time to get used to a new tunnel but sometimes you have to take the game to them; they won’t come to you.
Cover up
As we explained above, rats are pretty particular about where they live. Putting your traps by a wall or tree helps your chances – adding some cover will improve them even more. See the picture for some more tips.
That time of year
Rat numbers change during the year. Spring through to late summer can see big increases in the population while things can be quite quiet in winter and autumn. It’s important to keep your traps ready and set even outside of ‘rat season’.
Keep on keepin’ on
As we remove rats and stoats from more of the city, your backyard or community traps will have less to catch. But there are animals we’re not removing that still cause damage to native wildlife, like mice and hedgehogs. Your traps are still important.
We also rely on the community to be our eyes and ears for reinvasion. Call our 0800 NO RATS phone line or use our online form to report a sighting in pest-free areas. You can also volunteer to help in the biosecurity monitoring of the city.
Thanks for your backyard trapping – it makes a big difference to pest numbers across the city.
Posted: 24 July 2024