Backyard trapping

Turn your backyard into a safe sanctuary for native wildlife.

We are helping Dunedin residents get involved in backyard trapping to reduce numbers of possums, rats and stoats across the city. If you live near a reserve or forest, have a section with bush, or are being visited by possums, we’d like to get a trap on your property.

We provide traps on loan, baits, training, and ongoing support. All traps meet animal welfare guidelines and have passed humane testing to ensure predators pass away quickly. Traps are safe to use around pets and kids, and do not contain any toxins.

What’s involved

1. Sign up

If you live in one of our current active suburbs, complete our online sign up form.

2. Install

We’ll check your address and if you’re in a target area, we’ll make a time to install your trap and give you training.

3. Trap

Check, clear and re-bait your trap once a week.

4. Data

Let us know what you catch by using Trap.NZ’s mobile app or website.

Current target areas

Our current focus is to reduce possums to low levels in key parts of Dunedin. Rodent and mustelid traps are also available in target areas.

Click the different areas on the map to see where we’re currently working and when we’ll be in your suburb.

Do I need a possum trap?

  • Target location

    If you live within our current target areas, sign up to host a trap.


  • Possums visiting

    Can you hear possums calling at night or climbing on your roof? Have you found droppings in your garden and noticed plants being chewed?

  • Possum habitat

    If your property borders forest or contains bush or pasture that possums may be living and moving through, we’d like to get a trap there.

Sign up to host a possum trap and help protect native wildlife.

Frequently asked questions

  • We’re providing free possum and rat traps on loan for properties in our operating area. You’re welcome to make a donation for your trap so we can help more people get involved.

    Click here to make a donation.

    You can also purchase a possum or rat trap from Dunedin’s i-SITE.

  • It only takes 5 - 10 minutes a week to clear and rebait your traps and send trapping data.

  • All traps meet National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee guidelines, meaning they are proven to kill the target species quickly and consistently.

    We do not use any toxins or poisons in our traps.

  • Yes! Rat snap-traps are kept inside a wooden safety box with wire mesh at both ends. These tunnels have a small entrance that allows predators to enter but keeps pets out.

    Possum traps are installed on trees, making them less accessible to pets. We use non-toxic lures and never use meat or fish bait.

    Trap aversion training for pets can also help. This involves bringing a dog or cat near the trap, putting the lure on its nose, and setting off the trap so it gets a fright and associates both the lure and trap with a negative experience.

    For people who are still concerned about pet safety, we suggest setting the trap overnight and keeping pets indoors.

  • We use a range of traps depending on the predator species being targeted and the location. None of our traps contain poisons or toxins.

    Possums

    • Trapinator

    • Flipping Timmy

    • Live capture cages

    Rodents

    • T-Rex traps

    • Victor Professional

    • Goodnature A24

    • D-Rat series

    Mustelids

    • DOC200 traps in cat-proof wooden boxes

  • You can bury any catches in your garden or double-bag them and put them in the red council bin.