Hi if people want to cover treadle plates with duct tape this might be a good option, the broken pattern should be more natural,
Hi I finally got hold of some of the 3M Scotch guard Camo tape
photo is a 200 with ramp and Camo tape on Treadle, the tape is cloth backed so easy to rip to fit and says the sticky backing is waterproof
Internal baffle left out for clarity
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That looks really good Dave. Please let us know how it goes.
I’ve got a hedgehog that refuses to cross the treadle on one of my unmodified DOC200. I really need to find the time to modify all my DOC boxes, but for the moment will move the modified trap to that location.
Hi unfortunatly it is going to be difficult to know what difference it makes, more a leap of faith that it has to be better. Only real way to get enough data for peer review is cameras on say 50 traps 25 std and 25 modified and monitor for a year to check the number of animals that turn around and come back out the entrance, which is really beyond financial means of most groups and emails outlining this to some DOC people have gone unanswered.
anyway one of the groups I work with who are always looking for incremental improvements have seen enough and this will now be standard on their 250 upgrade which is being rolled out and will be about 220 more 250’s and eventually about 300 of the current DOC 200’s will get the same treatment, Have about 90 of the 250’s done at the moment so will at least get an idea of how Robust the tape is
have a good day
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I have just caught my 8th (Jan, now 9th) hedgehog in a month in my DOC200. I use peanut butter and an empty eggshell. Hedgehogs don’t trigger my trail camera looking at the trap! The animals are huge. I had widened the mesh holes by one grid on advice. I still have trouble removing the bodies. (Now have a safety clip and lever. I lift out the mesh with the hedgehog and use gloves)
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I got the fussy hedgehog that wouldn’t cross the treadle of the unmodified DOC200.
I placed my modified DOC200 beside it. The hedgehog went into the unmodified box as it had been doing repeatedly, ate the lure on the safe side, then walked out and went into the modified box. It ate the lure on the safe side then proceeded across the treadle without hesitation. It got the bad news and I’m happy.
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Hi good one, there are no silver bullets so all these small incremental improvements add up to make a real difference.
have a good day
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@dave_e Couldn’t agree more. KJS and I have had this conversation many times. When dealing with animals that have their own minds the best we can do is to do everything in our power to make it as easy as possible for them to do what we want.
KJS and I are both anglers, and like fishing it is a percentage game. Doing everything as ‘right’ as possible increases your chances - it doesn’t guarantee success. However doing everything ‘wrong’ has a far greater impact on your chances. And as I’ve said before sitting at home doing nothing is the most certain way to trap nothing.
Best wishes for the festive season all, and for your trapping efforts.
W
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Hi I think much of what was best practice has been bypassed , in the days of run through Fenn traps it was just standard for us to sprinkle a bit of leaf litter on the Treadle plate.
15% of rats in NAWAC testing don’t cross the Treadle speaks for itself. And 25 % in another Lincoln trial.
Watch some of the Aust pro Trappers after Feral Dogs and Feral Cats they go to great lengths to disguise the Treadle on leg holds and talk about animals being sensitive to touching the steel, they get paid by the animal they catch No animals caught NO pay which is a great reason to do better
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