Sound Lures: First External Deployment

We are preparing for the first external deployments of the sound lure unit which has been developed since last September in this current form (having being revised several times in terms of coding, unit set up, solar powered plannning etc). 

It has always been the intention since the projects inception to make the units, which are extremely cost effective, available for wider trials and experimentation to try and improve their use.   As has been noted many times on this blog the units in deployment currently are deployed for the purposes of testing to deal with issues of the units reliability, the battery levels and water proofing.   Once we can establish testing zones or areas outside of the current location we can start looking at sounds, frequency of activations of sounds etc and determine the contribution of the sound lures to effective trapping. 

Evidence strongly suggests that it works with a range of creatures, but this is documented on a small scale at present and there are also other factors directly affecting the deployment (such as the domestic cat which is clearly is visiting the site each night) and the presence of other animals (the large dog) and cats.   There is also the location of the sound lure relative to the river as this is placed in such a location that it near an active part of the river which generates other noise.
Very shortly there is going to be significant developments with the project and also start to expand the deployment.   These are taking place at a number of locations throughout the region, with a focus specifically on possums for a major regional project. 

There will be a secondary project focussed on other pest animals which will take place at select locations, some of these locations will be external to the Taranaki region where we are based. 

Right from the onset of the project we have been interesting in partnering with groups and indidivduals who are actively involved in pest reduction in both our region (Taranaki) and the wider region of New Zealand.  While the target was originally going to be stoats there are a wide range of potential for the technology and the set up.   If you have not made contact with us yet and would liket to do so at some point for using the technology or working with us can you please email us at myles.webb@gmail.com

The sound lure can be left at a location, in sunlight, and charge and operate independently.   It appears at the time of writing (six months) that it was not adversely be affected by weather.   It can be programmed in a huge number of ways to reflect a variety of variables based around operating.

We have changed the base profile at the main testing location.   The new sound profile has retained the 'chick' sound, which is the day profile.   This also features at night four additional sound profiles, rat, field mouse, and two variations of distressed rabbit.   These profiles are playing at one minute random intervals from within the inside of the box.   The box is currently a standard rat box, with a t-rex plastic trap inside.   

Due to testing conditions and activations we have placed a second box next ot the sound lure box.  This has two deployed mouse traps, as mice have been responsible for clearing out the traps without setting off the larger trap.

On the third night of this deployment with the new sound profile the brush tailed possum shown in the photographs appears at the trap and tries to interact with it.

Sound Lure Sounds: Revising the targets and basic sound.

After reviewing the documented activity from the sound lures activity at location number one a decision has been made to significantly alter the sound profile that is being used.   Having met and talked to various organisations and individuals in the past few weeks, a decision has been made to trial a different sound.

The original deployment sound consisted of a 'Stoat Chatter' sound during the day, followed by a night profile that consisted of 'Stoat Chatter', two versions of a 'Possum Call' and two versions of 'Chick sound'.    These sounds have been the ones used on the five initial units that were deployed from November 2019 to January 2020.

The new sound has been sent to us from a link from Kane from Lake Rotokare Reserve and is entitled 'distressed bobtail rabbit'.   This is a professionally recorded sound from youtube which appears to be a hunters call.  The idea behind utilizing this sound is to attract animals towards it, that would prey on a wounded or distressed rabbit (ie a Stoat).

Currently the lure that we are tracking each day is at a location close to a significant middle sized river.   This river is currently in the middle of summer and is lower than usual for this time of year, there is a small amout of water activity from the current.  As it is located in a area of riparian planting there is siginificant bird chatter in the area, the distressed animal noise is now in contrast to this.  The intention is to monitor the activity around the trap, the previous sounds have clearly attracted possums, rats and cats to the immediate vicinity of the trap during night.   The first night of the change there was no recorded activity at the site.