Combatting slug bait predation

[jimshu]

Combatting those slugs.

My experiences at our reserve and other traplines I check.

Urban trappers know too well the disappointment of finding their baits disappear. At our reserve, as much as 50% peanut butter can be slurped up on the first night.

I have been reading here over past months many of the topics for ideas for an effective way of defeating Leopard slug bait predation.

Chickpeas slow them down.

A useful tip gained from this forum. But over a few nights they have been gobbled up and they’re onto the bait. Short term effectiveness.

Beeswax blend.

A member posted about beeswax.

So, from that suggestion my trials with beeswax from my hives I blended with Hubbabubba gum and added cinnamon powder were very effective.

Long-lasting, slug and mold resistant, recyclable. Used in two trap lines, caught 3 weasels, many rats, and mice. I noticed several dead large slugs surrounded by beeswax crumbs. Beeswax and bubble gum in large quantities would be indigestible, I guess.

This is a very effective bait particularly during the warmer months when beeswax is softer and more pliable for the various traps.

Dripping.

We have past-expiry date prawns which we dehydrate then put through a blender and the resultant powder is sprinkled around and in our trap boxes. Leopard slugs prefer plant matter so I thought powdered prawns would be a great combo to enhance the smell of the dripping.

The dripping and prawn powder bait has been a winner.

Long lasting, slug and invertebrate resistant, mold resistant, and easily applied.

Rats love it. I have 4 rat trap boxes at my local church and I was pulling two rats a week out. 13 rats over 3 months.

I’ll be frying up bacon and adding leftover dripping to the blend.

Bacon sammies are yum.

[willowflat_warrior]

I was the one that suggested the dry chickpeas for mousetraps. The leopard slugs are able to eat them? They’re as hard as a rock and very dry, so I’m really surprised by that. They must have some sort of digestive enzyme that does the trick.

I’m not surprised that dripping with powdered prawns on top is a winner. That combo should be effective in numerous kinds of trap. In DoC tunnels, you could put it inside tea strainers, which are very effective when non-target species are interfering. Were there any signs of the leopard slugs being able to eat the dripping?

How could you go wrong with dripping and bacon grease? The white fat from pork/beef/lamb/mutton is also a winner. In a DoC tunnel, the gelatinous fat from roasts is also a big hit. Save half of it for a sample and then fire the rest in once it’s gone.

Another thing that you could try is salt, which is very effective at killing slugs and snails. Apparently, rats prefer unsalted foods to salted ones, but rats definitely like fast food scraps, don’t they? Bacon grease will contain a significant amount of salt, but the rats here love the stuff as much as much as the dripping.

Good luck!

[jimshu]

Yes, chickpeas hard as rock but they soften after a few days in the wet periods and often just an empty skin left. They are a great idea if traps are checked regularly.
I use dripping as not everyone can get tallow or fat from butchers. For simplicity, we needed a bait that our several trappers can use quickly. And the reserve found 4 pots of dripping they used to use for bird feedouts.
As you say, the dripping is a great medium for blending with other suitable baits and to use in most any type of trap. Quickly dug out of container by knife, roll into ball and pressed onto plate, cup, or trigger.
Peanut butter can be devoured overnight.
Dripping can be there for a month. The slugs will eventually consume it but refreshing every 2 weeks covers that issue. It doesn’t disappear as fast as peanut butter or Nutella.
But there is a downside…
At this time of late winter, animal fat resrves run low and birds are going for any fats. Dripping and peanut butter attract them.
So, I have switched baits at home and my church to the beeswax blend.
Cheers.

[jimshu]

Btw, the prawn powder is added to the melted dripping.
The trick is to keep stirring the resultant mixture while it is cooling otherwise the powder sinks to the bottom.