Trapping data and collaboration

words by Michelle Spooner

Traps, bait and volunteers are all key in the effort to create a pest free peninsular, but one other very important aspect is ‘data’.

Mahurangi West Pest began over three years ago, when Project Lead Brian Bramell decided to expand beyond his own back-yard trapping, creating a network of people in the community who wanted to see native birds thrive.

Bringing data into the project

In approaching Auckland Council to access traps for the project, Brian says they were able to make the commitment to provide some traps and tools on the condition that as a work group, Mahurangi West Pest would sign up to the Trap.nz mobile app for data collection.

The app not only allows pest control groups to plot traps, trap-lines and bait stations; it also records trapping data for monitoring and evaluation within projects.

Plotting and maintaining traps

Mahurangi West Pest Coordinator, Mike Neil says he and another coordinator, Jeff Marsh, have been using Trap.nz when they’ve been establishing new trap-lines.

Trap.nz has been a great way to plot the lines and ensure important parts of the landscape are not being missed, he says.

“For some of the trap-lines, we’re walking through really dense bush, but when we position each trap and log it with Trap.nz, the GPS gives us the exact location.”

Using Trap.nz also means the trap-line volunteers are able to locate the traps and ensure each are being checked regularly.

“Once in action, they can then record the number of kills, which pest is caught, what bait is working and how often the traps are being rebaited,” says Mike.

Part of a team

Mahurangi West Pest relies on each of its volunteers maintaining their traps on a regular basis.

In being a part of Trap.nz, and seeing the data it produces, says Mike, also helps to feel like you’re a part of team.

“We’re all trying to get these pests and we’re often working alone – but when you see the number of kills in the area and know that you’ve contributed to it, there’s a feel-good factor; that it can be achieved together,” he says.  

Beneficial for all parties

Recording the data, Brian says, has been mutually beneficial for both Mahu West Pest and Auckland Council.  

“We’ve been able to track and understand our work – and from a Council point, they can see the assets they’ve put into our project, and that they’re being used efficiently.

“They can see that we’re trapping and maintaining the traps effectively; which as a result, makes it easier for applying and approving funding to expand.”

Being part of the bigger picture

Developed by a New Zealand company, Trap.nz is being used by regional councils and community restoration projects to contribute towards the goal of Pest Fee Aotearoa 2050. By using Trap.nz, Mahurangi West Pest’s data is automatically combined with others across the country.   

Brian says he’s currently also networking with other local pest groups and is part of the wider support network, Restore Rodney East.

“Trap.nz allows these projects to share data and also make gap analysis to identify areas of land that are being missed,” says Brian.

“Ultimately pulling together as a team and having a coordinated effort is essential to make a difference,” he says.

Interested in joining Trap.nz? If you currently have traps and would like to join the Mahurangi West Pest project on Trap.nz to add your progress, we’d love to hear from you. Once joined, we can provide support with the best ways to set your traps, and in some cases, we can provide you with bait. For more information – check out our website Traps and target areas – mahurangiwestpest.wordpress.com