How to use a chew card
Become a backyard pest detective and find out what’s lurking in your backyard!
Chew cards are a safe way of detecting and identifying pest animals such as possums, rats, stoats, mice and hedgehogs.
Each card is packed with a non-toxic hypoallergenic peanut butter lure that pests find irresistible.
Different pests leave a unique bite mark, meaning you can figure out what kind of trap is required to protect native wildlife in your backyard.
Installing your chew card
Find the best place to put your chew cards. Start where you suspect rats or other predators might have been active — like near rubbish and compost bins. Try along a fence line, hedge or at the base of a tree.
Fold the card in half and nail it to a tree, fence or post. It should be placed at about 20 – 30 cm from the ground and the top flap should stick out at a 45-degree angle. Date the card so you know how long it has been out for.
Leave the card out for 5 - 7 dry nights (pests don’t like getting wet and are less likely to chew on the card in the rain).
Checking your chew card
Check your card for chew marks. If nothing has nibbled your card, just take it down and move it somewhere else.
Now it’s time for some detective work to figure out what chewed your card!
Whose chews?
When a predator chews your card it leaves a unique bite or tooth mark impression.
Use this guide to identify some of the more common chew marks.
Rats
Rats use their incisor teeth to shred a card, leaving ragged edges with random patterns. Look for blunt teeth marks that are about 2 mm wide.
Mice
Mice nibble one side of a card, leaving the hollow parts. Look for teeth marks or punctures that are less than 1.5 mm wide.
Possums
Possums leave crushed margins that can sometimes look like water damage. They can also leave moustache shaped teeth marks that are 5 - 7 mm wide.
More like this…
