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The Bealey Hut Trapline is part of a wider project established by The Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust (APWT). There are 55 traplines, 1242 stoat traps, 4 other traps of possums, 46 traps for cats and 1 trap for pigs. The APWT website has a lot of information about the project. It's was developed and is maintained by Graeme Kates.
The installation of the Bealey Hut trapline was completed in 2020 when NZ Alpine Club accepted responsibility and managed by Canterbury-Westland Section. There are 30 traps on the Bealey Hut trapline and we have caught 28 stoats, 6 rats and 15 'others' (mice etc). In this time we have checked the traps 20 times.
The Bealey Spur Hut Trapline has 30 traps paced from halfway up the Bealey Spur track through to the hut, a distance of about 3.5km (height of about 320m, 920m-1240m) which takes about 1.5 hours to walk without stopping. Each box contains one 'DoC 150' trap and an arrangement with three nails to support an egg (the bait). The boxes are placed out of sight of the track but within 12m, on either side. They're marked by blue triangle markers on trees or marker-poles.
Currently (June 2024), we have 16 volunteers who are trained and ready to service the BH trapline. Volunteers must be trained to meet DoC's safety requirements, this involves on-the-job training during a trapline check by the manager of the trapline or an already trained volunteer or someone approved by APWT.
Trapline Visit - What's Involved?
Trapline Visit - What's Involved?
Before setting out to check the trapline, a volunteer needs to:
be trained for the work.
organise the visit with the trapline manager.
pick up the kit from the manager.
purchase eggs from the supermarket or collect the eggs from the Community Centre in AP village.
advise someone of their intentions.
If travelling from Christchurch it's about 1.45 hours to the start. The task is to walk up the Bealey Spur Track to find and attend each box required for the check. Some of us find it easier to work in pairs. When resetting the trap, one can hold the box steady while the other carefully opens and resets the trap. This requires strong and steady pair of hands. The training course covers a demonstration and setting a trap.
Neville reports the trapline check data online to the APWT website and liaises with Graeme Kates.
Want to help?
Want to help?
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