Third Night of Increased Activity: Possum/Rat Activations

In the third night of revised volume levels we have again seen an elevated level of activity at deployment site one.   This has been amongst some of the highest 'Winter' activations at the location in the past two years.   There has been numerous brush tailed possum visits to the site (three seperate occasions) large rodent activity (a rat that would be unable to access the rat box based on its size as it would not be able to fit into the trap area and various mice, including one that activated the trap).  The first activation shown left is of a brush tailed possum which has accessed the site, but not interacted any further with the location, it can be seen above the lens of the trail camera and is on the tree opposite the traps, as its fur can be seen above the camera.

The first set of activations at the site start at 10:00pm and last for over ten minutes and include twenty six activations (photographs) of the brush tailed possum.  Typical of the last view days the interest shown by the possum seems based around the sound lure unit, the small rat box, and it is not paying attention to the Timms trap which is immediately to the right as shown in the photograph.

The third set of possum activations during the night takes place starting at 1:01am and finishing at 1:08am.   Again in this brush tailed possum activity shows a repeat of what we have seen over the last few nights, the interaction is taking place with the unit, which is a baited rat trap, while the Timms trap, which is baited with pineapple is not interacted with.     The brush tailed possum climbs over the unit, looks inside and around it, while not investigating the other trap.

The final set of activations occur from 1:36am to 5:15am and rodent based activity - including a number of large rat photographs.   This location is adjacent to a river, and the rat box in use has a chicken wire entrance as opposed to a wooden tunnel, and based on the photographs one would assume that the rat would have some trouble entering the box, although not impossible (there is also a mouse that was trapped at some point during the night at the entrance to the trap although it is not obvious when this occurred).   The rats generally spend the time around the sound lure, although there is an interesting photo of it stretching on the Timms trap to give an idea of the size of the rat.    There are again numerous mouse photos as well.

In summary three nights of activity at this location have the following to note: 

• there is an absence of any domestic or feral cat activity, which has dominated this site in the past.   The cats have previously shown considerable interest in the lure, although this has lessened overtime (time frame here is two years) including when the lure was first used around the house the cats would interact directly with it, including spending time trying to get into the box etc.
• at the present time there have been repeated brush tailed possum interactions with the lure at this site, almost exclusively just the lure while the possum(s) ignores the traditional trap.   The possums appear not be scared away by the unit activation (based on the time that they spend at the site and the time that the lure is operating) and remains on site while the unit is activating
• rodent activity is also occurring at the site which is not deterred by the unit operating again based on the number of activations that are occurring and the operating cycle that the unit is running.