Mae with the Broadwood Primary Industry students
Kiwi Coast’s Mid West Coordinator Mae Lewis visited Broadwood Area School in September to help students keen to test out their new pest control skills – leading to overnight success!
Motivated Primary Industries students from Broadwood Area School who had recently completed the Project Pest Control course run by Northland Regional Council were keen to test out their new skills.
Mae Lewis accompanied 10 students and 2 teachers to a local farm near the school to help set up a trapline and locate traps for maximum results.
Mae said “The students found a possum run through pasture leading to a large stand of trees and we identified possum scratchings on a number of different trees.
Installing the traps
After selecting suitable sites for traps, they took turns installing and setting a mix of SA2, live capture, and raised set leg hold traps. Blazes and lures were used to help get the attention of the pests and draw them into the site.
The students returned the next day and found they’d had overnight success – catching three possums, which they then practiced skinning to recover the possum fur.”
Many students already carry out pest control, and commented that the course and the practical component has helped them think about how they can improve their trapping.
The Primary Industries teacher Catherine Semenoff-Murray said “Thank you so much for your support Kiwi Coast! The students had a great time and are looking forward to checking the traps again soon”.
If you are involved in a school with a trapping project, would like some support with pest control skills, or you’d like to get started and you’re not sure which traps are suitable, just get in touch.
Success!