Protecting Our Native Birds from Predators
Tools and Guides for
Local Trapping
Mustelid & Rat Traps
DOC 200 traps are built to target stoats, weasels, ferrets and rats with precision and reliability. This guide covers safe setup, baiting techniques and placement tips to help you trap effectively in bush edge environments.
Whether you're protecting a lifestyle block or a backyard, these traps offer a proven way to reduce predator pressure and support native species recovery.
Rat Trapping 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.
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.
About Predator Free Waitakere/Swanson
Protecting Our Native Birds from Predators
Predator Free Waitākere / Swanson is a grassroots conservation group helping locals protect native wildlife from invasive predators. We focus on practical, community-led trapping that targets rats, possums and mustelids, species that threaten our birds, forests and ecosystems. Since 2020, we’ve supported hundreds of households with traps, advice and resources tailored to our unique bush-edge environment.
Whether you’re just starting out or refining your setup, we’re 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.
We also run local events, offer trap subsidies and share data through Trap.nz to strengthen predator control across the region. Our goal is to connect households, lifestyle blocks and reserves into a network of safe habitat where native wildlife can recover and return. The more people involved, the stronger our impact becomes.
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.
One of the country’s most inspiring community projects. Their website and social channels offer practical tips and a look at what’s possible when a neighbourhood works together.
A major urban project working to remove predators across Wellington. Their progress shows how coordinated community trapping can restore native wildlife in a city environment.
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.
A regional network connecting predator control groups across Auckland. Helps share data, coordinate efforts and strengthen community impact
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.
