Pit fall traps.

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Hello,

Could anyone please tell me the required dimensions of the
buckets used for pitfall traps?

Also could anyone point me in the direction of a purpose
made newt underpass or a suitable way of making one myself.

Many thanks.

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Hobgoblin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 23 May 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hobgoblin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Pit fall traps. Posted: 23 May 2012 at 9:07pm
	Hello, Could anyone please tell me the required dimensions of the buckets used for pitfall traps? Also could anyone point me in the direction of a purpose made newt underpass or a suitable way of making one myself. Many thanks.

mampam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote mampam Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 2012 at 9:31am
	I think it depends what you want to catch, they just need to be deep enough to prevent the target animal jumping/climbing out.
	Daniel Bennett

Noodles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 534	Post Options Post Reply Quote Noodles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 May 2012 at 4:01pm
	+- 12 litre, round buckets (with no lip). Similar diameter top and base with a depth around 20-25cm. The success of your dry culvert will depend on how well you can funnel the newts into it, but certainly the bigger the better, starting at a width of about 1.5m perhaps. P.S. This link may be useful to you http://www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/vol10/section4/ha9801.pdf Edited by Noodles - 25 May 2012 at 4:26pm

MancD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Status: Offline Points: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote MancD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 May 2012 at 7:08pm
	Hi Hobgoblin, The below points are assuming that you're enquiry is about great crested newts rather than the other non-EPS newts. 1) Presumably you are intending to use pitfall traps against amphibian fencing and this method of capture requires a licence for GCN from Natural England. 2) Pitfall trap guidance can be found on pages 48 and 49 of the GCN Mitigation Guidelines (link below), and it is important to only trap during suitable conditions (this applies even if you are catching non-EPS newts without a licence). Conditions that most of the UK has at the moment - high temperatures and dry ground are not suitable and could lead to newt mortality. 3) There is little evidence that amphibian tunnels are effective (some guidance on the GCNMG on p44) so you should avoid using tunnels unless absolutely necessary. Other ways of negotiating a barrier to dispersal that have more chances of success and less maintenance requirements should be scoped out first. For GCN - tunnels are likely to need a licence if they are necessary to mitigate fragmentation impacts as part of a development. GCNMG - http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/791789

sussexecology Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 411	Post Options Post Reply Quote sussexecology Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 May 2012 at 11:38pm
	Hi You should also avoid pitfall trapping on a site where you know there are reptiles.

sussexecology Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 411	Post Options Post Reply Quote sussexecology Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 May 2012 at 11:42pm
	And if the first 2 thirds of the trapping programme of pitfall trapping for GCN are negative, then these are invalid as trap nights. So if you find a GCN on trap night 30, you will need to do additional 29 suitable trapping nights if you are doing a low population. Remember that trap nights must be suitable condtions where newts are likely to be encountered in such as wet/damp nights. Technique depends on whether you are trapping around a pond, or in terrestrial habitats best to check the gcn guidelines for best practice, as strict guidelines hope that makes sense