Cats in Mustelid traps - how to prevent?

[Dave Houston]

This from Mark Melville

At Boundary Stream we intensely trap for mustelids and cats.  Within the 800 ha reserve plus buffer, we have 666 mustelid traps consisting of Mark 6 Fenns, DoC 200's and DoC 250's spaced 100m apart.  We have 57 Cat Belisle traps housed in Chimney boxes.  The cat traps are spaced 500-700m apart except for one streach of road where they are 200m apart. 
 
There is a large percentage of cats being caught in the mustelid traps.  Since July 2008, we have caught 47 cats with 32 in mustelid traps.  We were wondering if there is any way to reduce this.  Is anybody else also having this problem? 
 
Certainly the sheer number of mustelid traps as compared to cat traps will be a factor.  The entrance hole size is another factor and we are looking into this. Are there any other suggestions about how we can reduce the cat catch in mustelid traps? 
 
Cheers
 
Mark Melville

I recall we had the same problem at Macraes Flat some years ago with Fenn traps in Philproof plastic covers.  Kittens could squeeze in the hole and get caught.  We couldn't work out how to stop it without also stopping ferrets getting in.  Aside from putting cat traps next to your mustelid traps I can't think of any other solutions.

[Dave Houston]

Here is the summary of Responses to my question on how to reduce cat catches in mustelid traps:

• Smaller entrance holes and offset inner baffles
• More cat traps
• Change cat trap design (tunnel box instead of chimney box)
• Trial different bait/lures
• DoC 250 considered cat traps
• Lengthen the tunnel so cats can’t get to trap
• Using Phil Proof trap covers

Thank you all for your responses.
 
Mark Melville