Automatic self setting traps in Fiordland

The gas-powered self setting traps can revolutionize the way how we manage remote areas of conservation land. Two years ago field trials with the first generation of self setting traps began. Now, new traps with significantly improved design has been deployed to Fiordland to fight predators.The new model A24 developed by Goodnature Limited in Wellington is designed to fight rats and stoats ( a possum version called an A12 also exists), it is smaller, lighter and it can reset itself 24 times - the number was doubled in comparison to the first generation. It means that a single trap can kill 24 animals before it needs to be repowered again. Even though the traps are double the price of traditional trap boxes they can pay for themselves over the long-term due to less servicing requirements. Unlike current traps that need to be reset after every single catch, the A24 needs to be serviced only once in several months or even a year and therefore saves a significant amount of human labour and related costs. One of the main advantages of the trap is that it is ready to kill another nasty immediately one after another and it does not need to wait for a person to reset it. Therefore they are ideal for remote areas with difficult access - either deep Fiordland valleys or areas inaccessible through winter.