Trapline installation on the Coronet Face

In conjunction with Whakatipu Wildlife Trust and some keen volunteers we set out a new trapline along the Coronet Water Race trail – a trail built and maintained by Queenstown Trails , QEII and our partner group Soho Properties.

The Coronet Face reforestation project is a collaboration between Trees That Count , Te Tapu o Tāne, Department of Conservation , Wakatipu Reforestation Trust, Soho Properties and NZSki. Last year these groups planted over 10, 000 native trees along the front face. We have now added nearly -50 traps, including some AT220 self-resetting possum traps. This area will now act as an important corridor between trapping groups in Arrowtown and Mt Dewer.

As always, collaboration is important in our projects. Innes Hamilton saved our backs by helping out with his buggy – transporting traps along the trail to where they needed to be, and a group of volunteers helped install the traps.

As part of our planning to ensure we will be trapping effectively, we also put out some cameras around part of the Coronet Loop and Coronet Water Race. These cameras are baited with fresh rabbit and ZIP motolures, which automatically dispense mayonnaise daily. The cameras will be left out for 21 nights, and once analysed, will give a good indication of the pests in the area.