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Trapping for a Better Harbour
The aim of pest control is simple. It's to trap predator animals so that the birds, geckos, skinks, and insects that make up a healthy biodiversity have the best chance of survival in and around the harbour.
Harbour catchment trapline
1 April 2025 to date
930
RATS
132 rats on average per month!
72
POSSUMS
Nearly 11 possums on average per month!
620
MICE & HEDGEHODS
89 mice and hedgehogs on average per month!
63
STOATS & WEASELS
9 mustelid on average per month!
Unfortunately, our resources don't include rabbit control. Please contact TCDC Council for this.
Traplines
Do you want to run a trapline or want to fill in, when a trapline is away? Or, are you a landowner, wanting some information on trapping. Contact Roselle on 027 495-1761
Backyard Trapping
If you would like to trap rats in your own backyard contact Lyn on 021 151-5607.
Types of Traps We Use
Have you seen our traps around?
Careful consideration goes into what type of trap we use and where. We have to be mindful of not only predators, but the public, domestic cats and dogs, and other native wildlife.
Rats, Mustelids and Hedgehogs
Called the DOC200. Place tasty lure in there (like peanut butter), set trap, and wait it out.
Possums
The Timms trap is set using a tasty lure (like peanut butter). A possum puts it's head in, and the trap is set off.
Vermin
This effective trap (D Rat Supervisor) has a cover over it, which keeps it safer for those birds that like to go for the tasty lures.
Support & Funding
We have 5 main avenues for support or funding:
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TCDC Community Grants - to reduce predators on Parks and Reserves managed by TCDC that are surrounding the Whangamata Harbour and the mouth of the Otahu Estuary.
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Waikato Regional Council - with Doc 200 traps and advice. We report back to WRC with predator numbers trapped on land managed by WRC including the Tairua Bypass road.
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Private - We also receive donations and support from private landowners to manage predator numbers on private properties and the Titoki Golf Course.
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Predator Free NZ - endless support and advice, from the leaders of pest control in NZ.
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Department of Conservation - we recently secured a trap line on DOC land, on the northern side of the harbour - which can only be accessed by boat.
This pic needs to be updated, but thanks to our volunteers - current and old!
A big Thumbs Up to our Volunteers!