Trapping Predators Humanely
AT-220 possum trap.
Introduced predators such as rats, possums and stoats have pushed our native wildlife to the brink of extinction — killing millions of native birds, lizards and insects every year. However, it is important to remove predators in a humane way that does not prolong pain and suffering.
How is trap use regulated in New Zealand?
Trap use is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act 1999. This Act allows any trap to be used, but also enables the government to prohibit certain traps if they cause unacceptable pain and suffering.
What makes a trap humane?
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has developed a set of independent guidelines to assess pest control methods used in New Zealand against animal welfare standards. This gives guidance on whether a trap or poison is effective at killing an animal humanely.
Traps are tested by capturing animals in a controlled environment and determining whether they have been killed effectively. This means at least 20% of the animals caught must be unconscious within 30 seconds of being captured and 90% of animals must be dead within 3 minutes. and animals that do not get killed within the time period are euthanised humanely. Traps are always set following manufacturer’s guidelines.
How can I make sure my trapping efforts are humane?
Always choose traps that meet the NAWAC guidelines for your target species. When in doubt, go with a trap that is approved for any species you suspect might be around.
See below for a summary of traps used by Predator Free Dunedin and its Delivery Partners or explore the full trap summary table.
Which traps are humane and for what species?
Predator Free Dunedin and its delivery partners use traps that meet the government’s animal welfare guidelines.
The following table includes the traps we use and how they performed in NAWAC tests for different species. A tick (✓) means they met the guidelines, a cross (✘) means they did not meet the guidelines, and an empty cell means the trap is not suitable for the pest species.
| Trap | Possum | Ship rat | Norway rat | Stoat | Ferret | Weasel | Hedgehog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT 220 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| DOC 150 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| DOC 200 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |||
| DOC 250 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Flipping Timmy | ✔ | ||||||
| Goodnature A12 | ✔ | ||||||
| Goodnature A24 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| T-rex | ✔ | ✘ | |||||
| Trapinator | ✔ | ||||||
| Victor Professional | ✔ | ✘ | |||||
| Victor Professional (modified) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Key: ✓ = Passed NAWAC guidelines ✘ = failed NAWAC guidelines
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