Cardrona Alpine Resort 2025 Trap Network Expansion

This summer we used funds awarded from the Leslie Hutchins Charitable Foundation to expand our trap network at Cardrona Alpine Resort. We purchased and installed 48 kea proof single DOC 200s and 10 AT220’s during February and March. This has further developed our trap network as we try to achieve suppression of target species across our project area. The new traps mean we were able to add several new trap lines to the network, the newest lines are Whitestar Ridge, Captains Ridge and New Planting, as seen below:

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The remaining traps were used to fill gaps and expand on our already existing trap lines, especially the Captains line. The AT220s were mostly installed around the access road and in areas where we have substantial native plantings with them showing on our latest trap map:

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Figure 2:

The installation of our new traps were informed by predator monitoring. We installed 100 wax-tags pre-installation to help us understand possum abundance and hotspots and then installed our

AT220s according to our findings. We have also installed and serviced trail cameras across the site to help us understand the full suite of predators present. All of this monitoring will be repeatedly annually and inform the management and placement of our network so we can successfully suppress possums, stoats, ferrets, hedgehogs and more.

This new trap installation and network is to protect native biodiversity which includes threatened species such as NZ falcon, Lakes skink, Pallid skink, Orange-spotted gecko and others native birds, lizards and invertebrates. The focus on possum suppression also protects our extensive native planting and regeneration projects.

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