How to use a Trapinator possum trap
Where to put your trap
The Trapinator is a 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 an appropriate 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 under where you’ll attach the trap.
What to use as bait
For the Trapinator, only use approved paste baits. Never use a meat-based lure as this may increase the risk of non-target species interacting with the trap. We currently recommend trappers use:
Possum dough
Ferafeed
Smooth cinnamon lure
Apply a pea-sized blob of bait to the ridged side of the white bite block. Smear a bit of your bait up the tree trunk and 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
Re-bait the trap once a week and clean off all old bait before applying fresh bait.
How to install your trap
Hold the trap about 1.2 metres from the ground on your selected tree.
Drill three screws into the top holes (don’t make these too tight as they may warp the plastic)
Remove the trigger arm and add one final screw in the hole at the bottom.
Ensure the trap is in a firm position and doesn’t move too much if you give it a gentle shake.
Place the bait bar back in position and bait the white bite block.
How to set and unset your trap
Close the lid and place your left hand on the box. Use your right hand to push the red lever forward into the set position. As you push the lever press it into the box to avoid warping the mechanism.
To unset the device, place your left hand on the box and use you right hand to gently pull the lever back toward you. Use your body weight to control the release. Always unset the trap before baiting or cleaning it.
Disposing of carcasses
Put on gloves and push the red lever into set position. Hold the lever and use your other hand to pull the animal out of the trap.
Bury in the garden
Double-bag and place in your Dunedin City Council rubbish bags or rubbish bin.
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
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.
Pet safely 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 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.
Maintenance tips
Clean any blood, fure or debris from the trap using a brush and water
Check that the tiny wire coil on the trigger arm is flush against the bite block. If needed, move the coil back to position with pliers
Check the trap is firmly attached to the tree. Righten or replace loose screws
When setting the trap, squeeze the red lever inward to the trap as you push it forward to avoid bowing the right-hand spring
In you’re going away for a few weeks, leave the trap unset while you’re gone
If the trap is not working properly, do not set it