Evaluation of five kill traps for effective capture and killing of Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Abstract

Five types of kill trap for possible use by professional possum trappers in New Zealand were tested for their potential to kill possums quickly and for their capture efficiency. Traps were evaluated using the testing requirements outlined in a draft International Trap Standard. This involved sequential mechanical testing, pen testing with free‐moving possums, and field testing. The Banya and Loka‐asklem traps failed the mechanical evaluation because of insufficient impact momentum and clamping force; pen testing failed the Conibear 160 because insufficient possums were killed; and field testing failed the BMI 160 because insufficient possums were struck on the target location. The LDL 101 trap was the only one of the five traps to pass all three test stages. The ISO draft standard therefore provides a rigorous testing procedure that most kill traps currently available in New Zealand would not pass. However, because one trap did pass, it is clearly possible to develop kill traps to meet the standard and which also could compete realistically as capture‐efficient alternatives to leg‐hold traps.

Key words:

• humaneness
• kill traps
• possums
• standards
• trapping
• Trichosurus vulpecula