The Conservation Christmas Gift Guide

Department of Conservation —  18/12/2017

This is the ultimate guide to helping your family protect the native species in their garden this Christmas. Whether they’re new to backyard trapping or a veteran, there’s something for everyone.

Rat trap under the Christmas Tree.


The Starter Pack

For the beginner backyard-trapper.

•    Rat trap (we recommend a Victor Professional Rat Trap)

•    Mouse trap

•    Trap tunnel (trap box) – build one or buy one

•    Peanut butter

•    Backyard trapping instructions

This is a great kit for someone who hasn’t trapped pests in their backyard. It has everything they’ll need to get started.

Top: Mouse trap, rat trap, peanut butter. Bottom: Trap tunnel.

Top: Mouse trap, rat trap, peanut butter. Bottom: Trap tunnel


Tracking tunnel with rat prints on right.

Tracking tunnel with rat prints on right

The Deluxe Pack

For the beginner trapper who would like to identify the pests that are living in their backyard as well as trap them.

•    The Starter Pack +

•    Tracking tunnel

This pack will not only allow the receiver to start protecting the native species in their backyard from pests, it will also allow them to identify the pests that are present there.


The Experimenter

For that family member who already has a trap, but might like to try different bait every now and again.

•    Milk chocolate

•    Dried fruit

•    Cheese

•    Nutella

If your family member had been trapping for a while the rodents in their area might have become savvy to their tricks and be avoiding that tasty peanut butter morsel. This experimenter pack will allow them to find a new, more effective bait to use.


The Expansion Pack

For the family member who has a large backyard, but only one trap.

•    Rat trap (we recommend a Victor Professional Rat Trap)

•    Mouse trap

•    Trap tunnel (trap box) – build one or buy one

Because two backyard traps is better than one.


The Bird Lover

For the family member who likes native birds in their garden.

•    The Starter Pack +

•    Native seedlings

•    Sugar water feeder

Help your family member create a haven for native birds in their garden by protecting them from pests and providing food and shelter.

Tui-At-Sugar-Feeder-New-Zealand-2723148.jpg

Tūī drinking from sugar water feeder


The Lizard Lover

For the family member who likes native lizards in their garden.

•    The Starter Pack +

•    Native seedlings

•    Rocks for lizards to call home

Help your family member create a haven for native lizards in their garden by protecting them from pests and providing food and shelter.

Rocks and native plants are great at attracting lizards.

Rocks and native plants are great at attracting lizards


The Passivist

For the family member who doesn’t like dead things.

•    GoodNature self-resetting trap

These traps reset themselves so don’t need to be cleared. Perfect for someone who is a bit squeamish.


The Ultimate Mega Super Deluxe Pack

For someone you really love.

•    The Deluxe Pack +

•    The Experimenter +

•    The Passivist

It doesn’t get better than this for looking after the native species in your garden.


In the likely event that these gifts spark a pest removal competition in your family, you can stay one step ahead of the game with these top tips for backyard trapping.

Don’t forget to check out the Predator Free NZ website to see if there’s a local group near you, so that you can register your traps with them.

Good luck!

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