Curious Minds Possum Project: Final Test Deployment

Over the past week we have had test units, with cameras and Timms possum traps placed on a local rural location.   We have been monitoring the images taken from the camera and are processing the images as part of our project.   There are two distinct sites: one with a sound lure and a Timms possum trap working in conjunction with each other and site two, which is over 100m away in another location with a Timms possums trap.   During the first week we have noticed the following:

This daytime photograph shows the site for deployment clearly shown with the trap next to the tree.   The Timms possum trap has been baited with pear.   A chew card was placed (nailed) onto the tree by this location, however it was removed as during strong winds this was creating acivations as a result of movement.

There were a number of possums that expressed interest in the trap during the week, including several who interacted with the trap, however none attempted to take the bait within the trap.

The camera has a delay of thirty seconds meaning an activation occurs if there is movement and the movement is consistent for thirty seconds.

Clearly there are a number of brush tailed possums operating in the area.  These were clearly shown numerous times on the camera, some spending time in the vicinty of the trap.

We are logging all the data (images) from the week to create a detailed level of data from the project.  A domestic cat was also seen on the images passing through the area. 

At the second location on this deployment site as shown the two traps are placed adjacent to each other.   We have the sound lure inside the rat tunnel box, this has reduced the level of sound emitting from the device significantly, however the purpose of this deployment is to test the camera and recording aspects of the project.    We also have the original sound profile that was developed which includes stoat, chick noises and two possum noises.

There were repeated interactions with rats during the week including one that was trapped in the trap.   There were interactions with rodents climbing over the trap and being seen in the area.    The rat tunnel trap was baited with peanut butter as an afterthought, it was again, an opportunity to check camera deployment and ensure that issues would not be present such a 'false' images created by high winds.

There was one significant interaction with a brush tailed possum, shown on the image on the left.   The possum did not stay in the area of the trap.   

In summary the week long deployment has provided significant images of high quality to ensure that we can monitor effectively what is happening at local sites where the lures are deployed.   Having a thirty second camera delay ensures that high winds do not produce a significant amount of false activations, where no animals are present.    We will now deploy at this site for a significant length of time monitoring what is occurring at the sites where the sound lures and non sound lure sites.    This will allow us to see and show clear evidence of what is happening and show proof of the effectiveness of the lures.   These will be set up to specificallly target possums, at present we are using a generic sound profile with a mix of animals.     Shortly we will move to a possum specific lure that will remain silent during the day and play possum specific calls and noises at night.   We will also look at placing the lure outside of the rat box as this will significantly increase the volume that will be produced (and thereby increase the sound profile of the lure).