1. Trapping at Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve
Mrs Attridge

2. Bats!
Pelorus Bridge is home to the best population of long-tailed bats in the top of South Island!
In New Zealand:
One species (the greater short-tailed bat) is already extinct and without intervention, the other two species (short-tailed and long- tailed bats) will probably be extinct on the mainland within 50 years.
The catastrophic and ongoing decline in New Zealand’s bats is a result of the mammalian predators (rats, stoats and cats) that arrived with humans. 

3. Trapping
Forest and Bird has a trapping project to protect the bats and other wildlife in this wonderful piece of native forest. The trapping programme is carried out by volunteers – and they are always looking for more people to help out!

4. Pelorus trap line
This trap line is flagged by the pink ribbons.
You walk from pink ribbon to pink ribbon through bush, uphill, downhill and through water if necessary!
The traps have to be laid and baited where the pests are likely to be – and that’s not near the usual walk tracks 
You can see that trapping large areas takes a lot of effort and time

5. Possum traps
The blue one is baited with cinnamon covered apple. The possum has to put its head inside to reach the apple and when it triggers the spring, a string snaps around its neck, which strangles it.
The white one is baited with poisoned cereal and is only used when the possum numbers get really high.
The pink and yellow ribbon indicates where the traps are

6. A stoat trap
This is a large wooden box baited with smelly meat/protein bait, or as in this picture – an egg. (yes they eat bird eggs remember)
As the stoat enters it triggers a trap which snaps and squashes it.
I have only caught one stoat in 3 years – this trap commonly catches large rats.

7. A Fantail
One or two of these will commonly follow me on the trap line.
I sometimes hear a Tui and a grey warbler.
That’s not much! There should be many more of our native birds. This, and the need to protect the bats, gives me the incentive to keep volunteering on the trap line.