How to use a Flipping Timmy possum trap
Where to put your trap
The Flipping Timmy is a humane kill trap designed to be mounted onto a tree trunk. You can also mount it on a post or a fence support if you don’t have a suitable tree.
When selecting a tree, look for possum sign such as scratches, horizontal bite marks, fresh droppings, or where you’ve seen possums before.
Ensure the tree is nice and straight and doesn’t have branches or perches under the trap.
What to use as bait
You can bait the Flipping Timmy with a variety of fruit such as apple, pear or dried apricot. Never use a meat-based lure as this may increase the risk of non-target species interacting with the trap.
Smear a bit of fruit up the tree trunk and chop up a few chunks on the ground to lure any possums into the area. Liberally apply blaze to the tree and ground.
Blaze recipe
4 x cups of white flour
1 x cup of icing sugar
2 x tsp curry powder/cinnamon
Add fresh lure to the trap at least once a week and remove all old bait before applying fresh bait.
How to set your trap
Ensure the trap is unset then open the box and slide a chunk of fruit onto the trigger arm.
Close and lock the yellow box using the red button. With one hand on the front of the box, use your other hand to pull the cord firmly toward you to set the trap.
To unset the trap, place one hand on the yellow box and use your other hand to unlock the red button. Gently ease the yellow box down until it is hanging open. Hold the setting cord and gently push the kill bar forward as you release the cord. Always keep your fingers behind the kill bar.
Removing and disposing of carcasses
To remove a caracss the trap must be reset. Put on gloves and pull the cord to set the trap. The carcass will drop out of the trap. Unset the trap and then dispose of the carcass. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling a carcass. To dispose of the carcass, you can:
Bury in the garden
Double-bag and place in your Dunedin City Council rubbish bags or rubbish bin.
Adjusting your trap
The trap’s sensitivity can be adjusted using the red plastic slider on the trigger arm. The thicker part of the slider allows the trap to trigger more easily. This should only be changed if small possums are present.
Reporting your results
Please let us know what you catch by using the Trap.NZ mobile app or website. This allows us to keep track of the collective effort to protect native wildlife across Dunedin.
To find out more about adding catches, have a look at our guide to using Trap.NZ
Safely operating around kids and pets
Pet safety is one of our key considerations when installing traps. Possum traps are installed on trees without branches below, making them less accessible to pets. Never use toxic lures or meat in traps.
Trap aversion training for pets can also help. This involves bringing a dog or cat near the trap, putting some curry blaze on its nose or paw, and setting off the trap so it gets a fright and associates both the blaze and trap with a negative experience.
For people who are still concerned about pet safety, we suggest unsetting the trap during the day and resetting it upon dusk. We also advocate for responsible cat ownership by keeping your cat indoors overnight.
Please tell young kids the trap is dangerous and shouldn’t be touched without adult supervision. It can be helpful to spring the trap so they understand how it works. Kids can be involved in baiting the trap and sprinkling blaze.
If you’re are still concerned, only set the trap at night and unset the device when kids are visiting.