Giving you the tools to reach your goals
Advice and Guides for
Local Trapping
Targeting the big Three
Predator Free Waitākere/Swanson's big three, Rats, Possums and mustelids are our main focus when it comes to trapping.
These three collectively do the most harm and as prolific breeders these populations can quickly get out of control.
Knowing is half the battle
Trap.nz Trapper of the month help
Every catch logged helps build a clearer picture of our progress.
Its important we use this tool, understanding how to use trap.nz is a vital part of helping our group grow.
Learn how to navigate this tool
Gear and Care
The right tools to do the job and taking care of those tools, so you get the most out of them.
We pride ourselves in offering the best traps of the best quality, but everything needs some TLC every now and then.
Read our tips on how to care for your gear.
Useful Links
''It takes a village'
Predator control is the responsibility of everyone its important to all do our part, sharing knowledge and resources is a big part of how successful we can be.
See a compilation of other useful pages and resources to help you learn more and be a more sucessful trapper.
Whether you’re just starting out or refining your setup, The Predator Free Waitākere/Swanson team are here to help you trap smarter and make a real impact. Every catch logged, every neighbour involved and every safe nesting site created brings us closer to a thriving Waitākere landscape filled with tūī, kererū, ruru and other native species. Together, we’re restoring the wild character of this place, one backyard at a time.
Why Wak-A-Rat?
Targeting the Rats
The three rat species in New Zealand are the ship rat (Rattus rattus), Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), and kiore (Rattus exulans).
Ship rats are the most common and are known for their climbing abilities, making them a significant threat to native bird species that nest in trees.
Norway rats are larger and more aggressive, often found near waterways and urban areas, and are known to raid human food stores.
Kiore, the smallest of the three, are now only found in the south of the South Island and some offshore islands.
Norway Rat Control Guide
Norway rats are heavy, cautious and highly social. They require a different approach than ship rats.
This guide explains how to identify their behaviour, use pre-feeding strategies, and place traps near waterways and compost zones.It’s designed to help you reduce urban rat populations and keep pressure off vulnerable native wildlife
Ship Rat Control Guide
Ship rats are agile climbers and thrive in dense vegetation, making them a major threat to nesting birds.
This guide focuses on how to lure and trap them in hedges, trees and sheltered areas where they’re most active.With seasonal bait tips and placement strategies, it helps you stay one step ahead and protect the bush around your home.
Wak a Rat Guide
Rats are fast‑breeding pests that damage gardens, wiring and native birdlife. This guide shows how to use bait, scent and smart trap placement to outsmart them. With practical advice and seasonal lure tips, it helps you build an effective routine that protects your property and supports local wildlife.
A well‑set trap network can quickly reduce numbers and keep them from returning.
Ronald Richards
Founder CEO
Why Pound a Possum
Targeting Possums
Possums are a major threat to native birds, fruit trees and gardens across the Waitākere and Swanson area. They eat eggs and chicks, compete with birds for food and can carry bovine tuberculosis which puts local farms and wildlife at risk. Reducing possum numbers makes an immediate difference to the health of our forests and the safety of our native species.
Possums are curious and will travel to investigate new smells and sights, and you don't have to use toxic baits or lures to catch them, fruits and a maybe a dusting (or blaze) of some cinnamon, icing sugar or a spice powder are sure fire ways to get their attention and direct them to your traps. Although you don't have to get fancy, we here at Predator Free Waitākere and Swanson have our very own Chef Mark Dronjak that has created us a gourmet spice mix to use as a blaze or as an addition to dust on your bait.
Don't know what a blaze is? this is a term used to describe a visual and scent aid to lure a possum into your trap or bait station, usually consisting of flour (because of its visibility in the dark bush) and spices or something sweet to entice the possums in further once their visual curiosity has been peaked. its an effective technique and one used by many trappers. Just like people possums have different tastes so it may take a few attempts to find right recipe for your target. Flour, icing sugar, and a splash of water mixed into an old milk bottle to then 'blaze' the base of the tree is the most basic recipe.
For beginners looking to control possum populations, here are some essential tips
Trap Placement: Mount traps on trees with signs of possum activity, such as scratches or bite marks.
Bait Selection: Use highly palatable baits like peanut butter or apple and consider adding a visual lure like flour blaze.
Monitoring: Regularly check traps and adjust the bait types to attract possums.
Safety: Always wear gloves when handling traps and ensure traps are set up safely.
Ronald Richards
Founder CEO
Stoats, Ferrets and Weasels, OH MY!
Mastering the Mustelid Menance
Stoats, ferrets and weasels were introduced to New Zealand in 1879 to help with controlling the rabbit population that was then destroying grazing pastures... Big mistake the effect on our native birdlife was almost instant.
Built as killing machines they are agile climbers, good swimmers and with the strategy of relentlessly kill everything in sight and save the rest for later, all three species are a huge threat and are implicated in several species' extinctions.
Regular trapping on your property, getting the whole whānau involved is the key to getting this group of pests under control and although we may never see some of our species recover from the damage already done, we can ensure that no more extinctions occur due to our mistake of introducing these predators to our country.
Stoat Facts
Stoats leave the nest already pregnant!
Female Stoats breed early, with females becoming pregnant at 2 to 3 weeks old, often before they leave the den.
Stoats are territorial and some young have been recorded to travel over 70kms in a span of just 2 weeks in search of unclaimed territories and new feeding spots
DOC200 traps are recommended for the mustelids. They are designed for especially for stoats to be an effective and a humane trap. Place traps in areas where stoats, etc are known to travel, such as near their den sites or along pathways.
They are attracted to fresh meat, so using fresh rabbit or chicken as bait can be effective. Dried rabbit meat is also a good option, but fresh bait tends to be more appealing. Avoid using strong chemicals or pet urine near traps, as these odors can deter stoats from approaching.
Regularly check traps to ensure they are functioning correctly and to remove any caught animals promptly. Keeping traps out of direct sunlight can help maintain the freshness of the bait.
Use gloves when handling traps and bait to minimize human scent, which can also deter them.
Ronald Richards
Founder CEO
Why use Trap.nz and more importantly how?!
Trap.nz recording your effort
Its important to our group that people register for our project and log the traps so we can measure what is being done in our area and how successful we have been, this information also helps us get more funding for making more traps for our community!
But, not all us are tech savvy and sometimes it can be difficult to get set up and used to using the app to log traps and catches. We get that, Most of us on the team have struggled ourselves.
Trap.nz is one of the few tools used in New Zealand for data collection in the predator free studies and monitoring projects on a large scale its essential we use this tool. Our data collected contributes to other and larger scale projects, and our members use directly correlates to funding we receive.
If your having trouble with the app please get in touch and we will do our best to help you out.
Using trap.nz makes a difference to our groups success
Note - One of our team will accept your request to join the project as soon as they can! you will receive an email once you have been accepted.
Helpful tip
Please enter in your trap.nz username to the INSTALLED BY field as this is how we calculate results for our trapper of the month contest!
How to guides and other useful resources from TRAP.NZ We encourage you to have a look in your spare time to better understand how to use and why its so important to both big and small organizations as a data gathering tool
Looking after your investment
Gear and Care
Watch those fingers!
Traps should be deeped cleaned once a year, and always be handled with care and gloves!
Tongs can be useful for removing any catches from your traps!
Watch those fingers!
Have a small kit handy when checking your traps, bait, gloves, tongs, a wire brush and your phone to record on trap.nz!
Disposing of your catches and unsure what your options are?
- reuse as bait
-burry or return to the land
-bag and put in the trash
Low Performing Traps
Haven’t had any captures in the last seven visits? you may want to look at changing the bait or moving the trap location.
Look for the Signs
It isn't as simple as putting a trap just anywhere, and crossing your fingers. Keep an eye out for signs of a well used path - Pests like to use a path that is easy to travel and keeps them feeling somewhat safe, often following routes along the side of buildings or other structure. Try place your traps against something or create a barrier to naturally draw your target right
into your trap.
Tasty Treats, Everything has a preference
Try different baits - just like people, pests can have unique food preferences, if your baits not getting taken try something new.
Believe it or not!
TRAPNZ can be useful for YOU!
Recording every catch to help you see trends to make you a better trapper in the future.
Use as a monitor for success and failure with the location and bait used, Keeping your catches logged can be a great tool for you to track what traps and bait work best and what placement get you the best results!
you can use the previous traps catch to help lure the next catch, rub the traps entrance with the body or leave the fresh body nearby to attract more attention to the area.
All of our Wak a Rat Tunnels and Containment boxes for our DOC200 are made by our own Committee Member Andy Gough, Built by quality materials and built to last.
Looking after your traps
Helpful Tip
Make sure your traps smell good!
When cleaning or performing maintenance on your traps it's important to remember chemical smells are not very attractive to pests, use peanut oil or other food-based oil to clean your traps and keep them smelling tempting to your targets.
Knowing when and where
Knowing The Enemy Is Half The Battle
Trapping consistently can be an effort sometimes, if you want to use your time wisely then trap to the conditions.
Predator Free New Zealand have put together a handy calendar noting seasonal activities, environmental cues and what we should be doing during these periods to make the most of our time.
ePredator Free NZ Predator control calendar. Image credit: PFNZ A monthly reminder: the predator control calendar you can’t do without - Predator Free NZ Trust
Ronald Richards
Founder CEO
Trapper Guide (Digital Copy Download)
Useful and Interesting Reads
ePredator Free NZ Predator control calendar. Image credit: PFNZ A monthly reminder: the predator control calendar you can’t do without - Predator Free NZ Trust
Ronald Richards
Founder CEO
Useful Links for Local Trapping
Predator Free New Zealand
A national hub of trapping advice, guides and success stories. A great place to learn techniques, compare tools and stay updated on predator control across Aotearoa.
Helpful information on identifying and managing invasive weeds, plus details on where you can dispose of green waste for free in the Auckland region.
A regional network connecting predator control groups across Auckland. Helps share data, coordinate efforts and strengthen community impact
MetService Three‑Day Weather
Weather plays a big role in trapping success. This forecast gives you a clear picture of local rain and temperature patterns so you can plan your trap checks and baiting.
Matuku Link
A wetland restoration project in the Bethells Valley focused on habitat protection, education and predator control. Offers volunteer opportunities and guided visits
A collaborative conservation project in the Waitākere Ranges that combines trapping, monitoring and species reintroduction. A great example of long-term ecological care.
Community Waitākere
A Team with the goal of a 'West Auckland where all communities flourish' this mission statement applies to our native flora and fauna and a great resource to the community
A fast-growing community initiative working to reduce predator numbers across Franklin. Their resources and local stories are great for inspiration and practical tips.
ReCreators
A social enterprise promoting sustainable living through upcycled crafts, workshops and education. A creative way to connect conservation with community wellbeing.
Getting Started
Ready to Set Your First Trap?
Getting into trapping is easier than it looks, and a few simple steps will set you up for success. Begin by choosing a trap that suits your property, whether you’re dealing with rats, mustelids or both. Place it in a sheltered spot where pests naturally travel, and use a fresh lure to draw them in.
Once your trap is set, check it regularly and record your catches so you can see what’s working. If you ever need advice, want to compare results or just connect with others in the area, our Facebook group is the best place to ask questions and learn from locals.
Community powered conservation for Waitakere and Swanson.