Phase Two: Curious Minds Project Possum Focus

 

Recently we have experienced some challenging times as we await for technology for the start of the Curious Minds Possum Project aspect of our work.  Due to international circumstances some of the resources that we require for our project launch has been delayed, although we are expecting it in the immediate future.

In the meantime we continue to work with a number of partners who are deploying sound lures with a mustlelid focus.   You can read about this aspect of our work here.

Today we started the next phase of our Possum project.   We have deployed out final phase of test projects, putting a Timms Possum trap in a deployed area with a sound lure, currently contained within a rat box with a t-rex trap immediatetly adjacent to it.    We have both covered by a trail camera to record interactions with the unit (as shown above) and placed it in an area that is located on a local farm, in an area of bush that borders a river.    This is a similar location to deployment site one, detailed on this blog, but it on the other side of the river.

Trapping from the local farmer at this location has indicated that there are Brush Tailed Possums in the area.   There also have been other pest species including Hedgehogs, Rats and Ferrets.   We will be closely monitoring this deployment and have a secondary trap that is located a significant distance from the sound lure.   We are also monitoring this trap with a trail camera so that we can log the interactions and look at the two differences between the two seperate deployments.

Following this trial we will start rolling this set up out to the local South Taranaki locations.