Goodnature Self Resetting Traps

New Zealand Tourism Guide would like to acknowledge the good work done by "Goodnature" for their efforts that are helping with the eradication of some of New Zealand's most destructive, introduced pests, such as possums (opossums), stoats and rats.

Goodnature is a Wellington based company leading the way in the development of humane, self resetting pest eradication traps. The ingenously designed humane traps are fully automatic and use a 16 gram co2 cannister to automatically reset themselves after each activation. The A12 Automatic Humane Possum trap resets 12 times per CO2 cylinder and the A24 Automatic Humane Rat and Stoat trap resets 24 times per CO2 cylinder. The traps are toxin free. They work by striking the skull of the animal with a steel–cored, glass re- inforced polymer piston, killing it instantly. This piston is driven by a measured volume of compressed Co2 when the animal triggers the trap. Once the animal has been struck, the piston returns, dropping the animal to the ground. The Automatic trap resets immediately.

Goodnature traps employ two distinct trigger systems, the Classic and the Leaf360 depending on the target species. In the Automatic Humane Possum Trap the Classic Trigger is activated when a possum bites it and pulls. This triggers the firing sequence that drives the piston into the possum's skull. The Automatic Humane Rat and Stoat trap employs the very sensitive Leaf360 Trigger. As the animal brushes the leaf aside to investigate a bait, the trap is set into action. Goodnature traps and lures are toxin-free. This avoids any secondary harm to native animals and domestic pets.

The core team of Stu, Robert and Craig design, develop, and market their automatic traps worldwide.

The Goodnature traps, which are designed and made in New Zealand, are also more humane than traditional single-action traps. It kills possums, stoats and rats instantly meaning no suffering. Following rigorous ethics trials, the trap has achieved the Class A standard for humaneness as set out in the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee's guidelines. This is the only possum trap ever to have met this standard.

The traps have been designed to be easy to install and maintain. Goodnature's resetting traps can be set by anybody from novice to expert in the field allowing the whole community to get involved in pest control. The traps weigh less than 700 grams and are affixed to a tree with two stainless steel screws. The traps can be rebaited and recharged easily while on the tree.

Steve Riddall, North Island Regional Manager of Blakely Pacific Ltd relayed a positive experience with the new tool. "I have purchased a Henry trap as a trial to determine it's effectiveness as a possum trap. My initial impressions are very favorable. Installation is very easy. In the first week the trap killed 5 possums. The numbers have since tailed off quickly as the numbers in the vicinity of the trap diminish. I found relocating of the trap quick as all that is required is the removal of 2 screws."

Department of Conservation in Tauranga established a network of over 100 Goodnature A12 possum traps in the Aongatete Forest. Staff found up to five dead possums under most of the traps after the first check one month after establishment.

Goodnature's automatic possum traps and rat traps are available for purchase by the public.