Chew cards are safe, easy and fun way of finding out whether you have predators like mice, rats, hedgehogs, possums and stoats active in your back yard. Chew Cards can help you work out where to locate your traps, and can help us work out how many predators there are in Wellington. Plus it is a great activity for the kids!

Here are a few guidelines on how to use them, with thanks to Andrew Sinclair at Whakaupoko Landcare.

Labelling & Location

Label Chew Cards with eg your name and individual card number (if you have more than one).

Fold the card in half and pierce with a 50 – 75mm flat head nail so the top flap sticks out at approx. 45⁰ angle

Attach to trees / fences etc, approx 30cm (one foot, about a hammer length) above ground level.

(NB: Avoid locating on fence lines with electric wires as some pests avoid electric fences).

Spacing and places to locate Chew Cards. 

• Place Chew Cards on your property at 25m intervals.
• Make sure some Chew Cards are located close to your house or other buildings

Timing

• Leave Chew Cards in place for 7 days (1 week).
• Avoid placing the chew cards out when rain is predicted. Predators tend to not forage as much on nights when it is raining after sundown.
• Best placed at a time of the year when feed levels are usually quite low eg July / August

Chew Card Bite Marks

Interpreting, confirming and recording results

• Take note of where you put your card (particularly how close it was to your house, whether it was in bush or open ground)
• Visit this page on the Halo website to record your results. Even if you have no bites, please let us know!