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- Title
An introduction to a special issue and review of the effectiveness of Goodnature A24 self-resetting rat traps.
- Authors
Shiels, Aaron B.; Bogardus, Tyler; Crampton, Lisa H.; Gronwald, Markus; Kreuser, Abby M.; Baldwin, Roger A.; Lepczyk, Christopher A.
- Abstract
Rodent pest species threaten many of the world's resources, including those in agriculture, urban, and natural environments. Goodnature® A24 rat+stoat self-resetting traps (A24s) are used extensively for invasive rat control in several countries and environments, especially in island ecosystems. Unlike traditional single-set kill traps, A24s fire and reset up to 24 times per CO2 cartridge, and represent a nontoxic device for rodent pest control. Given the rapid rise in use of A24s as a management tool, our goal was to understand why A24s work in some cases and not others. To address this goal, we briefly review A24 literature, and then we: 1) introduce a special issue of A24 effectiveness and hazard studies, and 2) propose future research needs and recommended uses for A24s including a list of potentially susceptible rodent species for which further A24 testing is required. Most papers in the special issue focus on Rattus rattus control on islands in Hawaii and New Zealand. Additionally, A24 effectiveness was compared to toxic bait use against rats in California agricultural landscapes, and snap-traps against house mice (Mus musculus) in Colorado pens. Behavioral studies in this special issue demonstrated that both rats and mice repeatedly visit and pass by A24s much more frequently than they trigger A24s. Some large-scale trapping grids in Hawaiian forests reduced rat populations, but a few endangered birds were unintentionally killed by A24s, which stimulated research on bird excluder attachments for A24s. Understanding the duration of carcass persistence of rats and birds killed by A24s has helped trap users account for unobserved target and nontarget kills. Future research may investigate A24 uses on rodent species other than Rattus, as the types of species potentially vulnerable to A24s range in size from mice (e.g., Apodemus, Mus, Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys; = 14 g) to squirrels (e.g., Otospermophilus, Sciurus; 353-527 g). A24s can be used successfully to control rodent populations of some species in particular environments. Studies that compare A24s with alternative and synergistic rodent management methods will help determine the most effective and efficient rodent control methods that minimize non-target risks.
- Subjects
HAWAII; COLORADO; MICE; RODENT control; RATTUS rattus; RAT control; APODEMUS; FOREST birds; RATS
- Publication
Management of Biological Invasions, 2022, Vol 13, Issue 3, p466
- ISSN
1989-8649
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3391/mbi.2022.13.3.01