Hurray!!! 5 more possies. On the new line number 16 and again number 18. Very good. Very please with that result. Lovely day too. Then I did part of Waterloo down to 36 where I found 2 possies! All very mangled and hidden in the bushes by cat. And then the same on 33 again eaten and hidden under the bush. So all in all a very good day.
Seven to go for 350! I think we should make it by end of June. Especially as next week I will install 10 new trapinator traps and maybe another 10 automatic traps.
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One more today! On the new Northern Line! It was number T18. The very last one. Glorious day and very cold. Numbers going up again! The good thing is the new line only takes me half an hour to do. From here and back. But of course I am going to extend it soon and then it will be longer.
Getting closer to 350! One more today. Trap T5. In fact I only had the head left in the box. The body was eaten! Yuck. Never mind. I cleaned it all and rebaited for the next possum. It was a lovely day and I started late because had to do breakfast at 9.30.
But finally I started working on the Northern Line. I deployed six more traps, all yellow box type, all along the little gully. They are all on flat ground and I had to use the boxes because there are no trees to attach anything to. So these traps are on the ground and the lure is apple. Quite a successful traps I must say. Like number T3 has done 20 possums! You can see the new traps on your map numbered T12 to T18 all along the flat field you can see below the clubhouse. The placing is important. So I look for signs of possums like tracks in the grass or through the bush. Then put it right there and that seems to get them. So tomorrow, despite having peeps, I will go and check these new traps. Just curious. It only takes me half an hour to check. No problem. Another two!!! Now it is officially 350 possies! What a milestone.
Today I deployed three more traps. They are TR2, TR3 and TR4. They are called trapinators. On the top it says: I will not return! Quite funny. Anyway one was for possums and two are for cats. I baited them with sardines!! So have to see how that goes. Saw another cat just today. Plus the two possums were on Northern Line. Number T15 and T16. Tomorrow I am going to deploy 5 more trapinator traps along Northern Line. If you look at map there is a long shelter belt of trees. They all go in there. Possies are go. I quite like the trapinator trap. Although so far I have only one out there and it caught two possums so far. They are fixed onto a tree and then I put lure inside and then on the side is a lever and I have to push down to set the trap. When the possum goes in bang it triggers and it is dead. It then just hangs there until I come and put the lever back up again and it falls out. Also went especially to trap Taximus. Nothing. That is very curious. Why would there be no more possums? It is such a good location. There must be possums. Maybe I should put the camera there just to see what happens. Maybe cats removing the bodies? No the yellow boxes have fresh apple in it. And the other have the cinnamon lure. Today too I did go Piccadilly Line and Circle Line. No possums today. Actually Circle Line will be off limits for a while. Many slips have come down and I think we lost two more traps in one of those slips. Just could not find them and where I looked was a slip.
Also the walkway in that part has big cracks in it. So have to wait until it dries all out. But I made it through and the other side is fine. So I can access most traps from the top. All these slips made now my decision to work on the gully first and I found a good access point not too far from us. I can walk there. Or take the car through the farm. The river is still murky and flowing fast. For the next few days we have peeps in again. Also the other side Waterloo Line is ok. No problems there and I have a new line of traps to put there. Always see evidence of possums and my theory is that possums always use the same track to come up from the bush to eat grass on the paddocks. So each of those track needs a trap. They just do not go sideways all that much. Then when one of the gullies such as yours has had 6 to 7 possums then it stops. Must be because all possums in that line have been done. Makes sense really. Only when a new possum looks for a new place then another one might get into the old tracks. Today lovely day. Quite warm. Set out 10.30. Checked yellow boxes. No possies. Then over stile at Central Station to the right onto Piccadilly Line. The first trap there is number 2. Plus there is a wooden box trap number 2 as well and on top of that there is an automatic rat and stoat trap.
Now I look down from walkway to check for possums and what do I see? A cat!! Looking up at me and then quickly disappearing into the bush. I thought I better check what she had been doing there. And right enough there was a dead possum she had been feeding on. I moved it further into the bush. Then on I went and track was quite wet in places and closer to the coalmine there was a big slip down the side but did not damage the walkway. Then I get to the stream crossing and what a mess! Boulders and stones and trees and the stream did completely change the course and damaged the walkway. Also in that spot I had a trap, wooden box, number 32 and it is gone. Nowhere to be seen. Have to go back again with chain saw and cut some trees so the walkway becomes easier again. What a mess that was. That little stream must have been a real torrent. Then I go back because had to go into town shopping. On way up I check the other yellow boxes and the first one had nothing. I walk blissfully along and then suddenly I am upon trap T1 and a possum in it. Gave me a fright. Not expected. So again today we have two more possums for a total now of 336!! It is creeping up and maybe 350 by end of month? Hope so. Stupid weather of course has delayed my work down there by a week or so. Now I have to find some good days when I can deploy more traps!! This is the first time I do it in the winter. Last year I was on my back recovering from hip operation. Just a year ago now. Cannot believe it!! Today we are back in business. Walkway very wet and slippery so did not too much. Got two possies. Hurrey! Trap T3 had one, quite fresh but wet. And trap 33 had another. Almost overlooked it among the branches but then looked closer and it was only bones left and the tail. Must have been a hungry cat! They never eat the tail.
Beautiful day it was too and very warm. No wind nor rain. |
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