Nail philproof mini bait stations at head height on trees.

The autumn/spring control season is based on dealing with possums during breeding i.e. reducing numbers before new young become independent during autumn; and further control immediately prior to spring to afford the best possible conditions for breeding bush birds. 

This approach is well timed to coincide with the winter reduction in the amount of naturally available food items, thus making baits and lures more effective; pulsing your control efforts during these two periods of the year also reduces both the level of effort required and the associated costs.

Trapping, shooting and poisoning are all viable means of achieving possum control. However, for those after a standardised method that requires as little input as possible, then establishing a permanent bait station regime for use during autumn and spring makes a lot of sense.

The following prescription is one I have used for many years and although there are always new alternatives, this method continues to deliver the results. It is one of the most easily applied by even those with no pest control experience at all.

Establishing a bait station programme: Philproof mini bait stations should be placed at 100 metre intervals around bush fringes/boundaries or at the rate of 2/hectare in bush.  They can be nailed to the base of trees or attached side-on to the tree at head height. I favour placing them as high as possible as this removes all risk of access by pets and stock.

When attaching sides, the addition of a second nail through the centre hole at the base of the station keeps it nice and level and allows for easy refilling by simply lifting the base off the lower nail, tilting the station 45 degrees to the side and pouring the bait straight into the mouth of the station.

Filling the stations: Fill each station with 500 grams of pest-off possum pellets. Cutting down a plastic bottle to make a cup that holds 500grams makes this very easy. The annual filling regime for these stations is based on three fills at one month intervals commencing in early autumn; and three times again at one month intervals concluding mid-spring. This equates to six fills over two pulses or three kilograms of bait per station per year.

As with all toxins, follow all manufacturers guidelines for safe and efficient use. Removing any uneaten bait will allow you to further calculate what your property requires annually and leaves the stations empty, clean and tidy until next season.

Additional lure: For best results bait stations should be lured with a “blaze” of scented flour (as pictured). You can make a really effective lure by adding a small amount of cinnamon and icing sugar, aniseed (or anything else that smells great) to the required amount of flour and smearing a handful of this in a line leading to the mouth of the station each time you fill them.

Bait stations and bait are available from Philproof Ltd, www.philproof.co.nz If you would like to establish a bait station regime but need some help setting up, contact me through www.coastalpestsolutions.co.nz.

Please help us to provide the advice you require by sending all pest animal questions to:info@coastalpestsolutions.co.nz