Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
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Trapping pests and saving birds Masterton family are onto a rat Eli Hill The sight of a rat isn’t an experience most people relish, but for the Philps family of Masterton, another rat in their trap is something to get excited about. A year and a half ago, Adam Philps, who also owns Masterton Foot Clinic, read an article about “regular joes” who had been trapping pests in the Ohariu and Belmont areas of Wellington and Lower Hutt. “The idea is that you only need to have one trap for every four or seven homes and that’s enough to wipe out or control an area, because a rat will have a certain territory you can take out. “We live in a pretty special area, because we get so much bird life we want to try and encourage it as much as possible, and we were just aware of the fact that if you have predators like rats they can take the eggs.” Since taking up the trapping, the Philps family had caught six rats in their trap which they bought from the Greater Wellington Regional Council for
“We live in a pretty special area, because we get so much bird life we want to try and encourage it as much as possible, and we were just aware of the fact that if you have predators like rats they can take the eggs.” around $30-$50. “The council were really willing, possibly a little surprised at the time because most of their focus is on controlling pests in rural areas, because of the issue of TB with possums. “It was a good response from the regional council. The trapping guys came around, looked at what we were needing and sold us a trap. It didn’t take long and they gave us a few hot tips on catching rats.” Adam said three-and-a-halfyear-old Barnaby enjoyed the trapping, while four-and-a-halfyear-old Margot was not quite so keen on the blood. “Barnaby loves it, he comes
and checks the trap, he loves undoing the lid, and finding out what’s inside. We go down once a week and have a look to see if we’ve got anything. It’s great education too.” The ideal place for a trap is one where the rats will travel through every day – usually along the lines of a food source. The Philps have placed their trap along the Waipokaka Stream [commonly known as Crossing Creek] which runs alongside their property before running into the Makoura Stream. Rats are lured into the trap with a raw egg and a dash of peanut butter which get replaced every three to four weeks. Old eggs, as well as any trapped rats are given to their neighbour Patrick - an eel who lives in the creek. Continued on page 4
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Adam Philps with a caught rat. PHOTO/ELI HILL