Animal pests inventory and monitoring
Introduction
This module describes methods to inventory and monitor animal pests including herbivores, rodents, mustelids and lagomorphs.How to use this module
- Read project planning guides.
- Read the methods to inventory and monitor animal pests.
- Consult the introduction and the comparative tables and decision trees to help you select the method(s) most appropriate for your study.
- Be aware of the minimum data collection standards for methods.
- Check if any training is available for this method.
Introduction
How to decide the best method for animal pest monitoring (PDF, 648K)
Read this introduction and consult the comparative tables and decision trees to help you decide the method(s) best suited for your project objectives.
Method description
Night counts for rabbits (PDF, 722K)
This method uses spotlights to estimate the relative abundance of rabbit populations.
Trap catch for possums (PDF, 691K)
This method estimates the relative densities of possum populations.
Snap traps for rodents (PDF, 548K)
This method will give you a coarse index of the relative abundance of rodent populations.
Find out how to apply snap traps in the field (PDF, 1,069K).
Tracking tunnels of small mammals (PDF, 608K)
This method will give you a coarse index of the relative abundance of rodents or mustelids.
Find out how to apply tracking tunnels in the field (PDF, 1,029K).
Faecal pellet counts (PDF, 530K)
This method describes faecal pellet counts as an index of abundance for deer.
Wallaby counts (PDF, 2,220K)
This method describes a case study which uses distance sampling to estimate the density and abundance of Bennett’s wallaby in South Canterbury, New Zealand.
Factsheet
Tier 1 possum monitoring trials factsheet (PDF, 902K)
More information
We welcome feedback and suggestions – contact biodiversitymonitoring@doc.govt.nz.
