Whether you’re doing rat control for conservation or to protect your home and garden, the best results come when you have a network of traps in place. It’s the best way to prevent a reinvasion of pests because there are more traps for rodents to encounter. This principle holds true wherever you're trapping.
Conservation network
The most effective conservation projects have an organised and steadily maintained trap network. Here are some general guides for those wanting to set up their own trap network:
Trap density
Rat trap networks should consist of trapping lines 100 m apart with A24 Rat & Mouse Traps spaced at 50 m along the lines. Two traps per every 2.5 acres is typically best practice for rat control.
Work with the contour
You should also use the contour and any existing track infrastructure on the land to make your trap lay-out easier. It will also help when you need to do your maintenance round after six months.
Marking and plotting
Use flagging tape to mark your trapping lines so it’s easy for you and your team to find their way through the bush during the 6 monthly maintenance rounds. If you have a GPS device then plot the location of each of your traps as well.
Monitoring success
It can take a few pest breeding seasons before you start seeing the fruits of your labour. A very easy way to see your impact is to observe what’s on the forest floor – the presence of seeds, seedlings and fungus are all great indicators. Department of Conservation science has repeatedly demonstrated that Goodnature trap networks are highly effective and efficient in recovering native species populations because they provide constant control.
Domestic networks
Don’t have a one-trap mind! While you may not be protecting hundreds of hectares of native forest, having networks at home, on the farm or at work will enhance your success. Bear in mind that food distribution varies greatly in these settings and, because of this, rat home ranges will vary as well. Therefore it’s essential you use Goodnature Rodent Detector Cards before establishing your domestic A24 network as they enable you to find the best places to install your traps.