Choose traps and toxins

Introduction

Find the most suitable pest control tools for your Predator Free 2050 protection area.

Highlights

The following traps and toxins are recommended for use by Predator Free 2050 community groups. 

When to use toxins instead of traps

  • If there are higher pest densities at your site, trapping will be labour intensive and inefficient unless the traps are self-resetting. Toxins are often a better choice in such circumstances.
  • Your local pest populations can become trap shy or poison shy if you stick to the same control method for a long time. Changing the tool can help you reach more targets.

Filter by target species

 Reset
 

DOC-200 trap (and DOC-250, DOC-150)

Double-set DOC-200 trap.
DOC-200 double-set trap
Image: Erana Stevens-Tulip | DOC

Kill targets: stoats and rats
Best for: stoat control
Pros: long service life; proven effective; humane 
Cons: large and heavy

The DOC-200:

  • must be used inside a covered tunnel box
  • requires some expertise to check the trigger sensitivity over time (100 g)
  • comes in single-trap or double-trap combinations – doubles are recommended for stoat control
  • may require box modification to exclude non-targets, such as small children, weka, and kea
  • should be replaced by the larger DOC-250 if ferrets are present
  • replaces the older and smaller DOC-150. 

Watch how-to videos about the DOC-200 trap.

Lure

For stoats: meat (Connovation Erayze, rabbit, salted rabbit); eggs (less attractive but longer lasting)
For rats: peanut butter (Connovation Ferafeed, peanut butter mixed with rolled oats); other nut-based or chocolate lures

Buy or build

Buy DOC-200 traps (with tunnel) (PDF, 418K).

Buy DOC-200 traps (no tunnel) and build your own DOC-200 tunnels (PDF, 201K).

A24 trap

A24 self-resetting trap.
A24 self-resetting trap by Goodnature
Image: Goodnature ©

Kill targets: stoats and rats
Best for: controlling rats when trapping is the preferred control option 
Pros: labour saving; good instructions and support; humane
Cons: higher ongoing costs (lure and canisters); long-life stoat lure is still in development  

The A24:

  • is a self-resetting trap made by Goodnature
  • can trigger 24 times before needing a CO2 canister change.

Watch a how-to video about the A24 trap

Lure

For rats: Goodnature Rat Lure 
For stoats: Goodnature Stoat Lure; Connovation Erayze

Buy

Buy A24 traps

Victor modified trap

Modified Victor trap with tunnel.
Modified Victor trap with tunnel
Image: Pest Control Research ©

Kill tagets: stoats and rats
Best for: controlling low-density rat populations over small areas
Pros: cheap; small and light; humane
Cons: labour intensive; lower durability unless treated with preservative  

The Victor modified trap:

  • is a Victor rat trap with a plastic fitting which makes it humane and suitable for targetting stoats
  • will catch fewer rats than an unmodified Victor trap
  • is usually second choice to a DOC-200, but may suit small sites and budgets
  • is used inside a tunnel or plastic pipe to shelter the trap and limit the risk of by-kill.

Watch a how-to video about the modified Victor trap

Lure

  • For stoats: 'Mustelid & Cat & Rat Lure' by Traps.co.nz; Connovation Erayz
  • For rats: 'Mustelid & Cat & Rat Lure' or 'Rat & Possum Lure' by Traps.co.nz; chocolate; peanut butter

Buy

Suppliers

Trapinator (and Sentinal, Warrior)

Trapinator.
Trapinator
Image: CMI Springs © 

Kill target: possums
Best for: controlling low-density possum populations
Pros: relatively easy and safe to use; humane

  • is similar to Sentinal and Warrior possum traps, but easier to set
  • is an all-in-one spring-set kill mechanism in a plastic box
  • is mounted by screws onto trees, 1 m above the ground.

Watch a how-to video about the Trapinator

Lure

Peanut butter; Connovation Smooth in a Tube; Possum Dough by Traps.co.nz.

Buy

Suppliers

A12 trap

A12.
A12 self-resetting trap by Goodnature
Image: Erana Stevens-Tulip | DOC 

Kill target: possums
Best for: humane control of low–moderate density possum populations 
Pros: safe and easy to use; labour saving; good instructions and support; humane 
Cons: higher ongoing costs (lure and canisters)

The A12:

  • is a self-resetting trap made by Goodnature
  • can trigger 12 times before needing a CO2 canister change.

Lure

Goodnature Possum Lure

Buy

Buy A12 traps

Cholecalciferol toxin (vitamin D3)

Kill target: rats and possums
Best for: controlling rats or possums at medium to low densities
Pros: can be used without a licence; low secondary poisoning risk
Cons: pests can become bait shy if the bait is used incorrectly; requires a pre-feed

Cholecalciferol:

  • is a naturally-occurring substance found in liver, fish oil, egg yolk and milk fat
  • is often used as a health supplement, but is toxic in high doses
  • must be used in bait stations for most PF2050 projects
  • requires one prefeed of non-toxic bait.

Examples of cholecalciferol for rat control:

  • Feracol
  • LDC Feracol Paste Bait
  • D3 Rat One Feed Bait

Examples of cholecalciferol for possum control:

  • Feracol paste
  • Feracol Strikers
  • LDC Feracol Paste Bait
  • Pestoff Decal Possum Bait

First-generation anticoagulant toxins

Kill target: rats
Best for: controlling rats where possum population densities are not high
Pros: doesn't require a pre-feed
Cons: ineffective in possum-infested areas (possums out-compete rats for the bait); potential for low kill rates if inadequate amounts are used; incorrect usage can lead to resistance in rats

First-generation anticoagulants:

  • are weak, blood-thinning toxins that interrupt the body’s ability to clot
  • require multiple bait applications over 1 wk period
  • remain in the body for a shorter time than other toxins, limiting the threat of by-kill of non-target species
  • must be used in bait stations for most PF2050 projects
  • do not require a pre-feed of non-toxic bait
  • are safer than second-generation anticoagulants, which are suited to special cases only.

Examples of first-generation anticoagulants for rat control

  • Coumatetralyl (Racumin Paste)
  • Diphacinone (Ditrac All-Weather Rodent Block, RatAbate Paste, Pestoff Rat Bait 50D, D-Block for the Control of Rats (RatAbate Blocks), D-Block Extreme)
  • Pindone (Pindone Pellets for possums and rats)
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