DOC 200 Traps

[john b 38]

I am arranging to bring a small sample of DOC200 traps into the country from New Zealand.

As many of you know the DOC series were added to the Spring Traps Approval Order in 2007

 

The trap shall be used only for the purpose of killing grey squirrels, rats, stoats and weasels.

The trap must be set in the tunnel provided by the manufacturer of the trap for use in the UK and must be used in accordance with the instructions (if any) provided by the manufacturer.

I'm also in dialogue with DEFRA about some specifics on the tunnel but I'm just trying to gauge if anyone is interested in any.

 

By the time I get them here they're going to cost you about £25 to £30 each.

[moxy 617]

John, does that price include the manufacturers tunnel?

 

Just seems a little bizzare and with constraint, that they say there tunnels must be used, to be fair they aint much kop!!

 

I would be interested in a trap or two though. But at working mans prices!!

[john b 38]

John, does that price include the manufacturers tunnel?

 

Just seems a little bizzare and with constraint, that they say there tunnels must be used, to be fair they aint much kop!!

 

I would be interested in a trap or two though. But at working mans prices!!

 

Well that's the nub of the question to DEFRA - do they really mean tunnels provided by the manufacturer ? or will tunnels manufactured locally to that specification be OK ? Importing wooden tunnels from New Zealand is going to kill this deader than a rat caught in one.

 

I'm afraid there's not much leeway in the price unless I can find a significantly cheaper import route.

[IanB 0]

What advantage do they have over a fenn trap?

[john b 38]

What advantage do they have over a fenn trap?

 

Well that again is an issue I've been discussing with the manufacturers. There some product information here http://www.predatortraps.com/traps_doc200.htm

 

As I understand it they have performed very well in test giving a very high instant kill rate. However at the moment there is no imperative to use these rather than a much cheaper traditional FENN or even Bodygrip trap.

 

I guess this could change if legislation changes in the future but at present £25 for a DOC vs £8 for a FENN seems a hard thing to justify - hence this thread to test the water.

[120-2 8]

What advantage do they have over a fenn trap?

 

Well that again is an issue I've been discussing with the manufacturers. There some product information here http://www.predatortraps.com/traps_doc200.htm

 

As I understand it they have performed very well in test giving a very high instant kill rate. However at the moment there is no imperative to use these rather than a much cheaper traditional FENN or even Bodygrip trap.

 

I guess this could change if legislation changes in the future but at present £25 for a DOC vs £8 for a FENN seems a hard thing to justify - hence this thread to test the water.

 

John I have a couple of 250s which I got from Sweden, much cheaper than brining them from New Zealand. They make a good box as well to the NZ spec.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

However at the moment there is no imperative to use these rather than a much cheaper traditional FENN or even Bodygrip trap.

 

YET ..... ;0

 

I have got a few of these as you know from my recent visit to NZ and they have to be seen to be believed, nothing that touches the plate has any hope of survival for even a short amount of time, they are lethal traps.

 

The issue of the tunnel would be overcome quite simply by producung the tunnel here to fit the trap - but as I told you, without a tunnel they are unusable pretty much

 

OTC

[120-2 8]

However at the moment there is no imperative to use these rather than a much cheaper traditional FENN or even Bodygrip trap.

 

YET ..... ;0

 

The issue of the tunnel would be overcome quite simply by producung the tunnel here to fit the trap - but as I told you, without a tunnel they are unusable pretty much

 

OTC

 

 

OTC, the problem is if you go by what the Spring Traps Approval says it's the tunnel thats the problem. It was the GWCT that put these through approval but the delay in bringing them in has been cost and tunnel.

 

"The trap shall be used only for the purpose of killing grey squirrels, rats, stoats and weasels.

 

The trap must be set in the tunnel provided by the manufacturer of the trap for use in the UK and must be used in accordance with the instructions (if any) provided by the manufacturer".

 

120-2

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

It is realistically possable to create killing traps that can 'wham bang' the target species into oblivion,..that has never been the problem

 

The difficulty that we experience here in the UK is due to the fact that most lethal humane traps,..have been designed to operate in wilderness type locations,.and the awkwardness of having to fit a tunnel of some kind to comply with the UK's stringent trapping law has been the major obsticle,..and,.due to the nature of our tiny overcrowded Island home,...it always will be...

[badgeroy 3]

Details of tunnel here,hope it helps.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/405/Doc200-Predator-Trap.pdf

[OldTrapCollector 377]

The trap shall be used only for the purpose of killing grey squirrels, rats, stoats and weasels.

 

The trap must be set in the tunnel provided by the manufacturer of the trap for use in the UK and must be used in accordance with the instructions (if any) provided by the manufacturer

 

So it is a quirk with the wording of the STAO?

 

I spoke with the manufacturer of the DOC traps in New Zealand in person a few months back and he was not aware of this. According to him the tunnel could (and should) be made to the specifications of their design wherever required - the tunnel is not a registered design or patent, and neither is it 'part' of the trap itself.

 

The main dimensions of the NZ tunnel were made to exclude Kiwi's and the purpose of the first 'chamber' of the tunnel is to exclude the possibility of catching the Kiwi's beak when used in conservation areas.

 

OTC

[john b 38]

Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I hope a response from DEFRA will clear it up.

 

It just struck me as significant that everything else requires 'a tunnel suitable for the purpose.....' where as this was quite specific.

[comanche 2,909]

Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I hope a response from DEFRA will clear it up.

 

It just struck me as significant that everything else requires 'a tunnel suitable for the purpose.....' where as this was quite specific.

 

Whoever put the trap up for approval should have paid attention to the wording . Or was there some alterior motive for basically ensuring that the trap and box had to be imported as a unit . Cynical as I am I could'nt help but notice that there is a NZ company that sell DOC traps complete with boxes built to the required Dept of Conservation specifications . Maybe they were hoping to corner the UK market .

But as John B has noted as they are not the manufacturers of the trap itself any box they build would not be legal in this country as the wording of the Law now stands .

Just a slight alteration to the wording such as - "set in a tunnel BUILT TO THE DESIGN SPECIFIED by the manufacturers" is all that's needed surely?.

It would be good if these problems could be overcome as when matched to their intended design of box they look to be very humane traps . Then couple this with the fact that they are actually a product bearing the name of the NZ Department of Conservation. Explaining to a customer that the trap I'm about to set in her loft has actually been designed for use on nature reserves must be good for public relations .

Edited November 22, 2009 by IanB

[david glebe 0]

I am arranging to bring a small sample of DOC200 traps into the country from New Zealand.

As many of you know the DOC series were added to the Spring Traps Approval Order in 2007

 

The trap shall be used only for the purpose of killing grey squirrels, rats, stoats and weasels.

The trap must be set in the tunnel provided by the manufacturer of the trap for use in the UK and must be used in accordance with the instructions (if any) provided by the manufacturer.

I'm also in dialogue with DEFRA about some specifics on the tunnel but I'm just trying to gauge if anyone is interested in any.

 

By the time I get them here they're going to cost you about £25 to £30 each.

[david glebe 0]

I am arranging to bring a small sample of DOC200 traps into the country from New Zealand.

As many of you know the DOC series were added to the Spring Traps Approval Order in 2007

 

The trap shall be used only for the purpose of killing grey squirrels, rats, stoats and weasels.

The trap must be set in the tunnel provided by the manufacturer of the trap for use in the UK and must be used in accordance with the instructions (if any) provided by the manufacturer.

I'm also in dialogue with DEFRA about some specifics on the tunnel but I'm just trying to gauge if anyone is interested in any.

 

By the time I get them here they're going to cost you about £25 to £30 each.

 

I would be interested in buying a couple of DOC 200 traps, and having looked at the tunnel specs, I'd be happy to construct my own 'double set' tunnel once DEFRA have sorted out their wording anomaly!

Perhaps you would be good enough to contact me if you proceed with your plans to import some of these traps.