Kereru © James Allan
5th May 2025
We were pleased to roll out five new trapping projects this summer:
AT220s in Arrowtown – Les Hutchins Conservation Fund grant
A huge thank you to Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation for a grant we received to help support the expansion of AT220 self resetting possum traps in the Arrowtown area.
Anna and Bonnie and volunteer Jo have been out installing the 12 new AT220 traps which will go along the Arrow River and along the hillside on Tobin’s Face and New Chums.
Lake Hayes Estate Walnut Grove – supported by QLDC
Lake Hayes Estate, who were recently lucky to have a Kākā visitor, have gained another trapline.
A keen local spotted rats in Walnut Grove reserve and got in touch. Trail camera monitoring confirmed that rats were present, and a trapline was planned.
Recently the traps were ready, so we headed out with our local volunteer and installed a line of six DOC150s targeting rats.
Lake Hayes Estate has lots of historic walnut and pear trees, which seem to be popular with Kākā. Hopefully we can help make our area safer for visiting native wildlife, and one day perhaps they may spend more time here!
Arrowtown Backyard Trapping – PFNZ Trust
WWT was approved for a backyard trapping grant for Arrowtown for possum and rat traps for around 40 households. Uptake has been great, Arrowtowners are keen trappers! We still have some traps left, so if you are in Arrowtown get in touch with Anna and we will provided you with a rat and/or possum trap and full training.
New Arrowtown Queenstown Community Housing Trust neighbourhood Tewa Banks are getting on board with backyard trapping too, with the first two households now with their traps up and running. The new native plant nursery being set up at Tewa Banks by Arrowtown Choppers will also do some trapping in their area.
AT220s along the Kawarau River – Transpower Community Fund
WWT was grateful to receive funding from the Transpower Community Fund to purchase and install 12 AT220 possum traps along the Kawarau river. These traps have been very productive so far with dozens of possums already removed and keen volunteers keeping a close eye on the new traps and gaining new trapping skills.
Wharehuanui – M Developments and private donations
We are pleased to announce that the first stage of the trap roll-out on the new Queenstown Trails track – Wharehuanui – is complete!
With funding from M Developments and individual donations we are able to build and install the first 16 DOC200 stoat traps along the trail underneath Coronet Peak.
The install was made super smooth and easy with the help of Matt Hirst from Better By Bike with the loan of e-bikes and trailers to carry the traps. This was definitely one of our speediest and fun installs!
Huge thanks also to Willy of QT Trails Trust for creating this wonderful trail and supporting us to get a trapline in.
Big thanks as always to Bonnie and Southern Lakes Sanctuary for supporting us with the planning and installation of these projects!
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