Make Your own Tracking Tunnels

Tracking tunnels and the cards that sit inside them are used to identify exactly which predators are visiting your backyard.  They are great for tracking smaller mammals such as rats, mice, hedgehogs and stoats.

Predators are lured into the tunnel by a yummy smelling food. As they walk along the tunnel to reach their snack, they get ink on their feet, which leaves footprints on the card. Their footprints tell us who they are.

Instructions

Project Janszoon in the Abel Tasman National Park has created some great instructions for making your own tracking tunnels. Here’s a link to view or download the instructions. We’ve also made some extra notes for you - so keep reading.

What do I make my tunnel from?

The most commonly used materials for DIY are cardboard or corflute. Corflute is what real estate and other signs are made from, and it works really well. You will just line the base with a piece of paper or cardboard to soak up the colouring.  You can use a piece of blu tack or tape to keep the ink pad or piece of card firmly in place.

Cardboard is great to use, but you will need to cover the exterior with plastic (eg use a piece of plastic rubbish bag), as cardboard is not rain proof!

What should I use as a lure?

Most rodents like peanut butter. However, they also love a bit of something sweet, like a chocolate paste.

Where should I put my tracking tunnels?

Think like a predator! Predators don’t want to be out in the open where you can see them (and catch them). They use regular pathways in the grass, along fence lines, down the side of the house, near compost and waterways. They like to stay in stealth mode while they look for warmth and food.

It’s best to space your tunnels no more than 50 metres apart. If you don’t have multiple tunnels, be selective where you place your tunnel.

Make sure your tunnel is firmly anchored so it won’t move. You can use wire pegs, or pile up some stones to keep it firm.

How long do I leave them out?

Rodents can be very suspicious of anything new, so don’t check them too often! Sometimes you can get footprints on the first night, and sometimes it takes up to a week.

How do I tell who the footprints belong to?

There is a short guide on the last page of the DIY tracking tunnel instructions. We have also written our own guide to the prints you will see. Find it here.

What if there’s no prints?

It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no predators present - it may just mean that their natural suspicion won over their curiosity. Try changing your lure. Make sure both ends of the tunnel are open - they need to see straight through so they don’t feel trapped. Try changing the position - where else might predators like to go?

Remember, citizen scientists ask questions, and solve problems. If it doesn’t work the first time, try something new.