Extended Rat/Lure Interaction

We have returned again to deployment site one, which has been detailed in the past.   We have also reverted to the original sound profile which consists of a 'chick' sound during the day and a rotating profile in the evening of 'chick (2), possum (2) and stoat).    The computer is programmed to play one of the tracks randomly at a one minute pause before cycling to another track. 

With the solar power board that is present with the unit the unit is able to power itself independently.    This would allow the unit to be deployed potentially and left at a long term location where it would continue to operate without the need for any interaction.    We have deliberately placed the sound unit (speaker) and the box housing the computer unit on top of the unit to expose it to the elements.   

Long term we would look at placing the electronics inside the trap itself and will be experimenting with the speaker either inside the box, so that the sound eminates from inside the box, which will reduce the sound but potentially be more useful in encouraging the animal to enter the tunnel.

In the evening of Thursday 7th May 2020, the first time that the unit has been deployed at the site following some updating of the unit there was a particular interaction of note.   There is a rat that can be seen interacting with the unit, which was photographed repeatedly with the trail camera - of particular interest is the time stamp with the pictures and what was occurring.

The two photographs that are shown above show the same rat interaction with the lure, but not the trap box, over twelve minutes.   The rat in the two photographs can clearly be seen climbing on the back of the box to interact with the speaker, while not venturing into the tunnel below (which contains a standard trap with peanut butter) on three occasions to interact with the speaker.

On three occassions during this twelve minute time frame the rat attempts to interact with the speaker.   This would suggest that it is interacting with the sound lure itself ignoring the bait below as it is finding the lure more interesting (or attracting).   Further research needs to be done with this as DOC have produced research about the matter but it appears potentially positive that the lure is working and able to attract rats to it.