New, automated pest detection and monitoring

Abstract

Reliable detection and monitoring of pest species is a crucial component of invasive species management. However, many current techniques fall well below optimal requirements. In response to this, our multidisciplinary team has developed a new long-life field tool for automatically detecting and identifying different pest species. These systems employ a customised surface incorporating electronic technology to analyse animal footprints, gaits, stride-lengths and other physical characteristics to accurately identify interacting species. Current research has been focused on detecting key New Zealand mammalian pest species, with trials showing that these new tools can accurately identify close to 100% of rats, feral cats, mice, stoats, ferrets and brushtail possums. The technology has been designed to cope with environmental conditions encountered in the field and is a non-invasive monitoring technique which offers a cost-effective, long-life alternative compared with current labour intensive methods. Recent trials have involved leaving the devices in situ at various sites to examine their accuracy and probability of detection versus current methods. A simulated island reinvasion trial has also been completed, demonstrating how this new tool can work in such a scenario. Results of these new trials will be presented here.