We aren’t targeting cats. However, you can protect native wildlife by keeping your cat inside from dusk until dawn when they’re most likely to be hunting. This will reduce their impact on wildlife, keep your cat safe, and mean you can make the most of cuddles on cold winter nights.

It is housed in a white plastic box with a red lever that allows you to easily set the spring-set trap. It is triggered when a possum interacts with the bite bar. Where to put your trap The Trapinator is designed to be tree mounted. However, you can also mount it on a post or […]

In order to reach our aim we are trialling what works and what doesn’t with regard to backyard trapping. Over the next couple of years we’re fully funding backyard traps to three pilot suburbs and once we find out the best approach to achieve city-wide backyard trapping, we’ll partly fund and support operations in ten […]

The Great Kererū Count is an annual citizen science project encouraging New Zealanders to count the kererū that are present (or not present) in their neighbourhoods. How to join Start counting kererū Photo by Tony Stoddard How to get involved Join the Great Kererū Count between the 18th and 27th of September. Report a kererū […]

2 March 2022 We’ve recently finished seasonal predator monitoring in the parks and reserves where we’re trapping. Seasonal monitoring is important because it shows us how effective the traps are and gives insight into local possum populations. Possums are monitored using wax-tags – plastic tags holding a hunk of wax. The tags are spaced at […]

City Sanctuary is supporting 1 in 10 households to protect native wildlife by hosting a trap in their backyard. Come along to the Maori Hill community trap library. Get a monitoring kit to see what predators are visiting your backyard, register for a free trap and meet the friendly City Sanctuary team. Please RSVP below […]

Already, Dunedin is uniquely suited to support thriving native bird populations with large areas of green space, including a town belt spanning more than 200 hectares. We’re encouraging people and communities to become guardians of 10 priority reserves. Dunedin City Council currently does predator control in reserves throughout the city but it will take a whole […]

30 September 2021 Written by Jenn Shulzitski  Since I was a little girl, the wilderness has always been my happy place, my play destination, and my spiritual centre. I loved hiking, biking, and exploring in nature, thanks to my forested home in Pennsylvania with bears, bobcat, bluejays, cardinals, native honeysuckle and rhododendron. I also give credit to my grandfather who showed me how […]

by City Sanctuary on July 29, 2020 2 min read by City Sanctuary on July 29, 2020 2 min read by City Sanctuary on July 29, 2020 < 1 min read by City Sanctuary on July 29, 2020 < 1 min read

You and your trap line crew will be responsible for checking, clearing and rebaiting the possum, rat and stoat traps that are located on your allocated line. You will also report any maintenance issues and trap catch records via the Trap.NZ app or website. Training, protective equipment and trap check tools will be provided to […]

Backyard trapping is integral to City Sanctuary’s progress. Many Dunedin residents are eager to help create a City Sanctuary but do not have the time or confidence to regularly check, rebait and enter data for the trap(s) they host on their property. We need friendly volunteer helpers to support residents by:  Servicing traps on residential properties Undertaking H&S site assessments and installing traps […]

The City Sanctuary area spans more than 8,000 hectares from North East Valley to South Dunedin, along to Brighton and up to Chain Hills. Over the next three years, we are actively supporting the following priority suburbs: Balmacewen, Caversham, Dalmore, Glenleith, Helensburgh, Liberton, Maori Hill, North East Valley, North Dunedin, Opoho, Pine Hill and Woodhaugh. Our key […]

Introduced predators like rats, possums and stoats are a major problem for our native wildlife. The Dalmore Backyard Trappers are getting residents in Dalmore to help protect native species like kererū, korimako (bellbirds) and tūī by trapping in their backyards. How you can get involved Our vision is to create a vibrant City Sanctuary for […]

Opoho and North East Valley, Dunedin Photo credit: Kimberley Collins/City Sanctuary (CC-BY) Dalmore, Dunedin Photo credit: Kimberley Collins/City Sanctuary (CC-BY) Dunedin City Photo credit: Kimberley Collins/City Sanctuary (CC-BY) Our vision is to create a vibrant City Sanctuary for Dunedin where wildlife thrives, and communities are leading city-wide predator control. @CitySanctuaryNZ