How do you stay in touch with your other crew members?
We primarily use an app called Heja which was suggested by a team member. It features scheduling, messages and very handy reminders whenever I have a slot coming up.
Have you had any special wildlife encounters on your trap line?
I once opened the lid of a Trapinator and out launched a tiny mouse towards me. I myself shot off my boots which in turn blasted the mouse back into the bushes.
I now give a little tap on the trap and listen in case there’s another Jack-in-the-box.
Any other funny stories to share?
Early on, there was a Victor trap that consistently had bait being eaten without triggering. This drove me and one other teammate nuts. Even months later when other traps started occasionally missing bait too (I assume it might be due to fewer rats, so there are now more mice which are harder to catch), we irrationally still fixated on that one trap. After almost a year of lamenting and scheming on how to catch the culprit, another team mate reported that we finally caught a mouse in that trap! Hurrah, we won!
… unfortunately the bait still seems to go missing every time I check.
What species would you like to see flourishing again on your trap line?
I’m not informed or have lived in Dunedin long enough to know if any species were in decline or if they’ve stopped appearing in the dell. Regardless, it would be lovely to have more voices alongside the current pīwakawaka, korimako, tui and kereru birdsong. Also don’t know if they’re meant to be here, but wētās would be cool, too.
February 20, 2025
Volunteer stories: A walk in the park checking traps — City Sanctuary
maximios city
How do you stay in touch with your other crew members?
We primarily use an app called Heja which was suggested by a team member. It features scheduling, messages and very handy reminders whenever I have a slot coming up.
Have you had any special wildlife encounters on your trap line?
I once opened the lid of a Trapinator and out launched a tiny mouse towards me. I myself shot off my boots which in turn blasted the mouse back into the bushes.
I now give a little tap on the trap and listen in case there’s another Jack-in-the-box.
Any other funny stories to share?
Early on, there was a Victor trap that consistently had bait being eaten without triggering. This drove me and one other teammate nuts. Even months later when other traps started occasionally missing bait too (I assume it might be due to fewer rats, so there are now more mice which are harder to catch), we irrationally still fixated on that one trap. After almost a year of lamenting and scheming on how to catch the culprit, another team mate reported that we finally caught a mouse in that trap! Hurrah, we won!
… unfortunately the bait still seems to go missing every time I check.
What species would you like to see flourishing again on your trap line?
I’m not informed or have lived in Dunedin long enough to know if any species were in decline or if they’ve stopped appearing in the dell. Regardless, it would be lovely to have more voices alongside the current pīwakawaka, korimako, tui and kereru birdsong. Also don’t know if they’re meant to be here, but wētās would be cool, too.