The user-friendly simulation tool is designed for use by many different groups, from landowners and land managers to trapping groups, community predator-control groups, mainland sanctuaries, forest regeneration projects, conservation organisations and schools. It allows users to compare scenarios in planning and designing ground-based predator suppression and control.
TrapSim Plus is the culmination of four years of collaboration between wildlife scientists and social scientists.
By simulating real-world situations to show the likely outcomes from different control methods and levels of effort, users can work out the cost and benefits of each approach, says project leader Dr Chris Jones, a Wildlife Biologist at Manaaki Whenua. “We know that all predator control initiatives nationwide, with limited resources, face the challenge of choosing which control methods and how much effort to use.”
“One of the advantages of TrapSim Plus is that users can compare different regimes, such as combinations of devices, taking into account factors such as the type of predator targeted, the level of previous control and the duration of the programme. The model adds scientific rigour to any decision about how to best invest resources to maximise the effectiveness of predator control.”
Another advantage is that while science underpins the model, users don’t need to be scientists or know about wildlife modelling to use TrapSim Plus, says Chris. “The online practical tool is easy to use, and it can be used by non- experts for local, community projects as well as larger-scale operations to compare the relative costs and effectiveness of different predator control programmes.”
TrapSim Plus shows the cost to achieve a specific project goal, and can also be used by predator control projects or funders to estimate what is realistically achievable given the level of funding available. The model can rank each option, show how much effort is required to control target species, and the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of each option.
“The tool isn’t designed to predict the exact number of individual predators remaining after a control programme,” says Chris, “but it does help understand a system and gives insight when comparing the relative effectiveness of approaches, which ultimately helps guide managers and communities in their decision-making.”
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