Stoats are probably New Zealand’s single most devastating predator. They’re also the wiliest and the hardest to get rid of.
Stoats (Mustela ermina), along with the larger ferrets and smaller weasels, were introduced to Aotearoa in the 1870s to control rabbits. It turned out New Zealand’s flightless and cavity-nesting birds were an easier catch.
In suburban Auckland, we don’t generally try to trap stoats in back gardens but leave that to groups working in parks and reserves using DOC200 traps in protective boxes.
If you want to get involved in trapping stoats, contact your local group who may be able to source traps or link you up with an existing trapline.
Luring a stoat into your trap is tricky too. Check out our lures page for suggestions and heed the following tips.
Tips for trapping stoats
- Use gloves. It is safer for you, and human smells put stoats off visiting your traps.
- Generally use DOC200 traps, Goodnature A24 gas resetting or AT220 mechanical resetting traps.
- Don’t leave discarded rotten lure near the entrance of traps.
- Try not to contaminate your box with strong chemicals or pet urine – these odours can badly affect catch rates.
- Make sure there are no sharp edges or wire protruding near the entrance to the trap.
- Make sure the visiting animal will line up with the trap plate for a cleaner catch.
- Make sure your traps ‘Spring-off’ weight (the weight that triggers the trap) is sufficient. Care needs to be taken so talk to your group leader about attending training.
- If you catch a stoat, let your group leader know asap and if possible KEEP the stoat. If it can be promptly frozen, they are useful to wipe against the DOC trap as the smell later attracts more mustelids.
- Keep traps out of direct sunlight to help fresh lures last longer.
- Tilt your tunnel slightly so liquid from any bait runs out of the tunnel not around the trap to avoid corrosion.
Stoats (and the smaller weasels) are best caught in a DOC200 trap: the larger ferrets require a DOC250.
These are serious traps only used by the suitably trained. In general, DOC-series traps are only used in reserves in the Urban Ark area. If you are interested in learning how to handle a DOC200 you can get in touch.
Whats the best lure?
Stoats are wily customers who prefer catching live animals, so the better you can mimic that, the more likely you are to catch your stoat. But they’re suckers for fresh meat. Most of all, mix it up. If you’re not catching with your current lure, try something else.
Dried rabbit meat - The staple of reserve trapping groups, this easy-to-handle compressed meat (such as the Erayz brand) comes in chunks you tear off and leave in your trap. Easy to use but probably not as appealing as fresh meat.
Eggs - Eggs act as a visual lure in DOC200 traps, and some people find that a ping pong ball or golf ball work almost as well as a real egg. If using a hen’s egg as lure, prick (with a pin) the top of the egg – to let the smell out – making sure the hole is upwards! Farm eggs (rather than washed store bought eggs) likely retain more chicken smells and are more appealing.
Fresh meat - Fresh dripping meat is better than jerky. If you have a fresh dead rat, stick it in one of your stoat traps. They love it. But consider how frequently you can revisit the trap as meat will go off quickly in summer. People have also had good results with venison and rabbit meat.
Guts/fat - Some (admittedly not in suburban settings) advocate smearing the guts of something recently dead all around your DOC200 to really get the stoat salivating. The same can be done with mutton fat which you can see about getting from your local butcher.
Sardines - Some have had success with tinned sardines.
Earth - Scuff up the trap entrance each time you visit. The smell of freshly turned earth can be an attractant.