Getting Started
Getting started is easier than most people think.
You don’t need lots of traps, specialist knowledge or an expensive setup. Many Tamahere residents begin with a single trap and build from there as they learn what works on their property.
Every property can make a difference.
One well-placed trap can help reduce pests around your home and protect gardens, fruit trees and local wildlife. As more neighbours get involved, those individual efforts add up across Tamahere.
Think you’ve got rats?
If you’ve heard scratching in the ceiling, found droppings, or seen a rat around your property, our T-Rex rat trap and wooden tunnel is a good place to start.
Why we use T-Rex traps
Easy to set: squeeze the rear lever rather than handling fiddly wire bars.
Easy to empty: squeeze the rear lever to release the catch without touching it.
Simple and effective: well suited to backyard rat control.
Why use a tunnel?
Helps keep children, pets and birds away from the trap.
Positions the rat correctly for a quick catch.
Our wooden tunnels are made locally by PFT volunteers.
Buy and collect locally
Tamahere residents can buy a T-Rex rat trap + locally made wooden tunnel for $25.
Already have your trap?
Our simple guide covers placement, bait, safe setting and what to try if you’re not catching.
Not catching anything?
Before buying more traps, try:
moving the trap
changing the bait
removing easy food sources such as chicken feed, pet food, bird seed or fallen fruit.
Often a small change in location or bait is enough.
Think you’ve got possums?
If you’ve heard or seen possums, droppings, scratch marks or damage to fruit or foliage, possum control may be your priority. Tamahere residents can borrow a Flipping Timmy possum trap free of charge.
Contact us to check availability.
How to Use Your Flipping Timmy Possum Trap →
Gully, bush block or river edge?
Larger properties may benefit from a different setup, including bait stations, DOC traps or self-resetting traps.
There is no single “best” option. What suits your property depends on the pests you are seeing, the size of your property, your budget and how often you want to check traps.
Still not sure?
Contact us → for practical local advice.
Already trapping?
Let us know roughly where you are trapping so we can build a better picture of predator control across Tamahere.