High Interaction Rate Trap
OUR PROJECTS
Our trap design is quite different from others out there and it probably looks too large and expensive to be practical unless you have seen tens of thousands of videos of predators not going into normal traps. We had to rethink other strategies for eliminating the last hard to catch predators.
High Interaction Rate Trap vs Other Traps
Our thermal camera see 3-20 times more typical NZ predators (rats stoats and possums) than a trail camera that is designed for pigs and deer. After watching tens of thousands of videos of predators not going into normal traps we had to rethink other strategies for eliminating the last hard to catch predators (existing traps are fine for predator suppression).
Trap Design Over Time
The idea behind our trap is like the difference between catching fish with a hook or a net. In the bush they follow well worn trails and the best way to catch them is to guide them into the net.
Current Design
Our current design has the following features
It has a larger opening that other live capture so has higher interaction rate (over 10 times)
Rather than relying on a trip plate we have a digital trigger
It can automatically reset so can do multiple catches (currently up to 4)
It is designed to catch all NZ target predators (rats, mudslides, possums, hedgehogs, feral cats) and could be modified to target mice
Future Versions
Future versions that we are currently testing will include
Automated kill mechanism so that the one trap can catch and kill everything
Link to AI trigger so you can only trigger of specific predators. Non-targets can wander back and forward through the trap. Or you can sequence predator removal. Eg catch mustelids and cats first, then possums, then rats. All the time the rat scent trail is acting as a lure.
Different sized versions of the trap with different hazing and trap material for specific use cases eg protection of vulnerable nests
While the goal of many designers is to make trap inexpensive and to last for years in the bush without services that is not our main goal. If you trap can eliminate everything then there is no need to leave it there for ever but you can move it around expanding your elimination area. Our goal is the make the most effective trap possible and then over time reduce the cost over time. The first version of our trap was over $3500 and current version we are targeting a price of around $980
Buy the High Interaction Rate Trap
We are proud to have 2040.co.nz as a partner and we work closely with them to help bring these products to market. They manufacture, provide, and support the products we design.
