We are using feratox in bait stations which means possums die right by the station and are easy to count. How do we record the kills to the bait station? It only seems to let me record bait taken etc?
@mike_deal I would use a one-off record with the same location as the bait station, and maybe put the bait station ID into the notes field for easier cross-referencing.
Here’s how to add a one-off kill on the app: Adding one-off records| Trap.NZ Help & User guides
If you want to use the website, you’ll find the link under “Quick Actions” > “I have a pest to report” > “Other”.
When you get to this page or the app equivalent, choose “toxin” as the control method.
Hope that helps!
Hi Mike, you might already be aware that with Feratox when you count possum bodies there will be a degree of under reporting. what Landcare found years ago was that some possum bodies were found up to 20 metres away from the bait station.
On the other hand a couple of times we have had more bodies than the feratox pellets in a Romark, both times was a Mum and Backrider so probably both scrapping over the same pellet
Good idea thanks Christina
Hi Dave, yes we were a bit worried about under-reporting, especially where the stations are on steep slopes. We got 52 this morning, on flat ground they are at the base of the tree, but on slopes they can be harder to find. Long term we might have a quick count then add 5-10% and call it close enough.
That is really interesting about more bodies than pellets. That happened twice today. I had put 5 pellets in each station, and been very careful to do so. Had two separate stations today with one more body than pellets missing. Thought I was going mad! Thanks for the info. Mike
Hi Mike
back in 2018 I spent months do development work on possum excluder baffles for bait stations using prefeed pellets it was common to see two possums particularly Mum and young trying to eat the same pellet
good luck with the operation
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