The Lake Taupo Hospice Project came about through a collaboration between the Hospice and Predator Free Taupo orchestrated by Ray Dunbar and Robyn Ellis in August 2018. Robyn provided trap box making materials and Ray organised for some of the patients and carers to construct rat trap boxes at Hospice’s Friday Club. A number of very well constructed boxes were turned out, of which four were deployed containing standard Victor rat traps. The arsenal has been augmented over time by donations of two Goodnature A12 possum traps and two DOC200 rat/mustelid traps. This now makes the extensive Hospice grounds, comprising paddocks, orchard and bush of around 3.7Ha, probably the most intensely trapped area of Taupo. The traps are now managed by Nick Green (nick.green56@outlook.com) on behalf of Hospice with results being posted to the Rangatira Park Restoration Team Project within TrapNZ.
Ray Dunbar and a dead possum courtesy of the Goodnature A12 trap pictured behind Ray.
Hospice Traps July 2019.