Kereru © James Allan
5th May 2025
Now we are in autumn, its time to take a look at how we can adjust our trapping techniques to the season.
We are currently in the tail end of the peak mustelid season, with juveniles having now left the den. There is still time to catch these less wary juveniles, so keep baiting with fresh rabbit where you can. If you are a duck hunter, consider using chopped up duck frames during the duck shooting season, as mustelids will be expecting to find duck carcasses in the environment.
Ferrets: Our biggest mustelid, often living around farmland, wherever there are rabbits. Much darker fur on top with white underneath – different colour to stoats and weasels.
Stoats: Middle sized mustelid, one of the biggest predators for our natives in NZ. Note the black tip at end of the tail – easiest way to tell apart from a weasel who don’t have the black tip.
Weasels: Less common, but we do get some throughout the basin. Smallest mustelid and the same orangey/brown colour tail.
If you are ever unsure what you’re catching, please send us through a photo or pop a photo on trapNZ and we can hopefully confirm for you.
Rodent populations are starting to increase, with a big jump in rat catches in March. Now is the time to get dust off your backyard rat traps and get them out there. Peanut butter, especially the brands like Pics with lots of natural oils are the most tempting, remember to refresh the bait often.
We are in a major possum mating period until the end of autumn, and juveniles are also leaving the family home. Now is a great time to get possum night clubs out and take advantage of possum promiscuity! We have a loaner possum nightclub a Flipping Timmy’s that volunteers can use. Contact Anna at WWT if you would like to give it a go, either in your backyard or on your trapline.
Its a great time to be regularly baiting Flipping Timmy and Trapinator possum traps with fruit, and consider moving them into fruit trees if you have close by. Ensure any AT220s on your trapline have fresh batteries and topped up mayo lure. WWT have a supply of AT220 lure available for free to our community groups thanks to a grant from Love Queenstown, so remember to get in touch to arrange a supply for your group.
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