I have been using AI thermal cameras in our trapping area (Friends of the Blade, in Western BOP, Kaimai) and seeing the occasional stoat, of course. I would love to be able to move stoat traps from place to place more easily, but those DOC200/250 in wooden boxes are a pain to lug around. Anyone know of a lighter, more mobile option for stoats that can follow the evidence more easily?
Hi have a look at NestGard – Trap Tools Ltd
it has only been out a few months but looks light and well designed.
or maybe you could try a different lure in some of those hundreds of AT220’s you have
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Oooh, that looks interesting, thanks. And point taken re the ATs. We definitely do catch stoats in them, esp when the stoats go after a stuck rat. But a lure change where a stoat is seen is a very good idea!
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What about the modified Victor?
Modified Victor Easy Set Rat Trap - YouTube
I haven’t used this model of corflute tunnel myself, but the link was from the DOC website and the video was made by Landcare Research.
I have used the modified Victors in a wooden tunnel - haven’t caught any mustelids yet, but can report that the traps are powerful enough to take out fairly large hedgehogs. Some trappers don’t feel comfortable with the setting/unsetting where you have to have your fingers on the kill bar, though.
Can one purchase these mods anywhere Christina? They look interesting. Just had a trapper nab a stoat in a Victor. It seemed the stoat was whacked on top of the head by the bar in just the right place for a kill.
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I had a quick look online - the supplier I usually use doesn’t stock them, but:
Modified Victor, 1 TRAP. Stoat & Rat Trap. Passed NAWAC (deadrat.co.nz)
Modified Victor Stoat and Rat Trap (traps.co.nz)
Kill Trap Tunnel for Stoats, Weasels and Rats (traps.co.nz) looks like it might be the tunnel from the video.
I haven’t seen the shrouds sold on their own anywhere, although the video does make it look as if they are - since the modified trap is still relatively inexpensive, maybe people just preferred to purchase them already assembled?
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I developed a chicken based lure for the AT220. Captured stoats on camera visiting but never entered the trap.
Had reports of feral cats being trapped on fish lure I made for the AT220.
But I don’t think the AT220 is that great for feral cats or mustelids.
It’s incredibly effective on possums and rats in my experience so I rate it highly.
Hoping the ground based AT220, when finally available, will be more effective on these two pests.
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Thanks for the intel John. Won’t get my hopes up… I didn’t know they were working on a ground based trap. Great news.
Hi, Marcus here from Trap Tools, who sell the NestGard. If you have a need to move traps around then the NestGard is going to be much easier to use than the wood traps: they were designed especially for ease of placement in steep country and the DOC150 is well proven stoat killer. Although possibly biased, I would not recommend the modified victor. Yes it works in controlled pen-testing, but the performance in the field is next to nothing. Hedgehogs don’t count as they can be trapped in anything.
Thanks Marcus! I actually ordered a NestGuard last week to try out based on the intel on this thread — so am looking forward to giving it a go. (I looked into the modified Victor, but can’t find out where/how to source the additions, in any case.) Alison
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With another company I work with I have also made a tunnel for the Victor Professional. See LiteBox – RatTek
The Modified Victor hasn’t really performed that well. This Lite Box has been developed for Island work with Ship Rats, but we are trialing in some wetlands around Taranaki and getting excellent results with Norway Rats (and ship rats). I am hopeful that it would perform well on weasels, but we have yet to test that. It also has approval from DOC for use on conservation estate; it is considered equivalent from a humane aspect to the conventional wood tunnel for the Vistor Pro.