No need for 'old school' trapping thanks to local predator-free know-how

A group of locals keen to upskill others in the community on top-notch trapping options that are safer for pets reckon there is no need for old school leg hold traps anymore.

It comes after a resident of Arrow Junction has spoken out about his cat Polo's injuries after becoming caught in a gin trap set near his home.

Anna Harding-Shaw of the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust says Polo's story as well as others like it where domestic cats have fared even worse are "awful" and unnecessary.

The SPCA is taking action after Arrow Junction cat Polo became caught in a gin trap near his home (Images: Supplied).

Ms Harding-Shaw suspects leg hold traps like the gin trap that caused Polo's injuries are hanging in the garages and sheds of people with good intentions to control pests, but the devices are outdated and disregard animal welfare.

The Whakatipu Wildlife Trust is on a mission to help move backyard trappers across to better options - it sells and donates pest traps, and since its inception its trained 600 volunteers on how to use them.

Ms Harding-Shaw says all the traps they promote are Department of Conservation approved and tested to ensure their target species is humanely dealt to.

"They're all instant kill traps, no leg hold traps or anything like that."

She says the most effective traps being used in the Whakatipu are the "super smart" AT220 self-resetting possum and rat traps, and the DOC200 box trap, which targets stoats and rats in particular. 

While some very small leg hold traps are still able to legally be used by trappers, they "shouldn't be using them anywhere near pets or anywhere near households", Ms Harding-Shaw says. 

Some animals will injure themselves struggling to escape or "sort of gnaw their own foot off", while others left too long will starve to death or be eaten by another animal, she says.

"There'd be no worse way to die...It's just terrible...We don't condone their use at all."

New technology means traps are constantly evolving, and on the horizon are models that will automatically deactivate in the presence of a microchip, she says.

Keen to learn more about trapping options? Ms Harding-Shaw says the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust is happy to help and can be reached via [email protected].

It is an umbrella organisation that supports the work of more than 70 local trapping groups.

At present, they have more than 1,800 traps out.

It is also promoting an event on Sunday, from 2pm until 5.30pm, being lead by the Southern Lakes Sanctuary team and held at the Arrowtown Community Centre, that will include information on latest trapping techniques.

Main image (Supplied): Volunteers learning how to safely use and install modern predator traps with the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust.