Trapping Success in Relation to Trap Placement with Three Species of Small Mammals, Rattus fuscipes, Antechinus swainsonii and A.stuartii

Abstract

The effect of trap placement on trapping success was investigated with the small mammals Rattus fuscipes, Antechinus swainsonii and A. stuartii. Trapping success for A. stuartii was not affected by density of ground cover (measured qualitatively and by the penetration of light), type of ground cover, presence of logs or presence of runways (either small natural openings in the ground cover or wombat pathways). R. fuscipes and A. swainsonii were caught more frequently in areas of good cover, in fishbone water-fern Blechnum nudum and on runways. The two indices of cover gave similar results. A. swainsonii was often caught on wombat pathways but not often on small natural runways; preference for wombat pathways increased in winter. Logs were not preferred by any of the species. Some latitude may be desirable in trap placement within a predetermined trapping configuration, especially when small mammals are sparsely distributed.