VERMIN DESTRUCTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5302, 20 July 1928, Page 3

VERMIN DESTRUCTION.

THE SETTING OF TRAPS.

BEST METHODS TO PURSUE.

Thie following interesting information has been received by the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation; Club from the. Auckland association, with reference to the destruction of vermin: —

To catch stoats weasels and wild ferrets the simplest, apd .at the sarnie time most effective way, is. by placing an ordinary rabbit trap on a run. By “run” it is not meant that clearly defined runs will be found, like rabbit or rat runs, except njear where the bitch has her litter of young, but a selection of a likely course for. any of them to take, such as along a hedgerow, along the banks of a stream, or any narrow strip of cover. A particularly likely place is nea.r the end of a. plank over a Sjtream, oh the stringer of a Water gaffe.

“Traps should be set... if possible, at points passed frequently by the trapper, or at least daily. On humanitarian grounds this is desjirable, also, the sooner the vermin/ is killed and the trap reset the greater, the chan.ce of .eradicating thejse pests. We often hear of the cunning of the weasel family but, speaking generally, they are tli'e least cunning of wild animals. They have no “savvy” whatever about the appearance of a trap. If they do avoid a trap you can be assured that it is owing to the presence of some odour, human or other, so that, all that is required ’s that care should be taken not. to 'handle the trap more than is necessary.

“After the site for the trap has been selected gather some large stones or drain pipes), and pieices of old boarding or anything by which a tunnel can be made not less than 18ins in length, 4'%ins wide, and 4% inp hiffh. The trap is the,p set very fin.ely, as the tread of thfe weasel is only a matter off two or three ounces (more would bei killed by rabbit trappers if .they set their traps lighter), and placed so. that the platform is mid-way in the tunnel a slight depression being cut with a pen knife to let th© spring down to ground level, but otherwise.- no masking of the trap is necte-ssary. ‘“The inside of the tunnel should ■not. be more than large, enjough to admit of the jaws closing without eg,telling the sides' or roof of the tunnel, preferably a 3in opening and about 4% ins in the centre. —this so that there is less liklihood of young pheasants or quail entering in search of insects and being caught. They may also be taken by setting a trap at the foot of a tree dr post with, a ■freshly killed rabbit or bird 15ins above the platform of -the trap, but to avoid trapping some possibly valuable dog or game the tunnel trap is preferable.

“Now to trap cats a bait is necessary. Part of a freshly killed rabbit or har.e. or fish is irresistible, and by trailing the bait across the proable line that the cat may take np to the trap the chances .are increased. Care should' be taken to securely suspend or pen. down the bait and place' it so that the cat must pass over the carefully concealed trap. Unlike s,t.oats and weasels, a cat will most certainly avo’d an obvious trap. Hawks are easily taken in the same way, only in their case the bait should be pegged down, and with a rabbit or bird .as bait. Fur or feathers .should be scattered round to give the impression that some other hawk has made the kill. A rat is an irresistible bait for a hawk.

“The Council will supply pn request to any sub-society strychnine or cyaiP ide of potassium, which, should be used as follows: A freshly killed rabbit or fresh meat (e.g., sheep’s, head) should be sprinkled with poison and placed firmly on a high stump or post or any place out of the reach of cattle and ■dogs This, poisoned bait must be frequently replaced by resih bait. Owing to the dangei'ouis nature of th,es'e poisons .all users should exercise thegreatest ca ; re not to leave supplies about where children and others can get them.”