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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for trapping
   • Identify purpose of animal capture and set objectives
   • Confirm the location and size of the area designated for trapping activities
   • Confirm target animal movement patterns, behaviour and lifecycles to determine trapping location and placement of equipment and appropriate timing of trapping activity
   • Identify potential non-target animals
   • Estimate time required to complete trapping
   • Identify and check vehicles, materials and equipment required for trapping
   • Select appropriate traps for target animal and the environment
   • Clean, maintain and prepare trapping equipment
   • Identify hazards associated with trapping and select appropriate personal protective equipment
   • Identify and manage environmental risks associated with trapping animals
   • Obtain relevant permissions to enter property
   • Determine precautions for minimising trapping of non-target animals
2. Place and set traps
   • Undertake site surveillance prior to setting traps
   • Select and prepare site to maximise opportunity for trapping target animals and minimise the chance of trapping non-target animals
   • Position, set and calibrate trapping equipment and check it for strength and security
   • Apply lures, decoys, baits or toxins as necessary
   • Camouflage traps as required
   • Apply precautions to prevent trapping of non-target animals
   • Set traps in accordance with legislative requirements and animal welfare codes of practice
3. Check and remove traps
   • Inspect traps at the required frequency
   • Identify trapped animals then release, humanely destroy or prepare for transport as required
   • Handle captured animals humanely and in accordance with animal welfare codes of practice
   • Transport animals from site, when required, in a safe and appropriate manner
   • Observe work health and safety procedures and public safety requirements prior to and during trapping activities
   • Release trap mechanism safely and remove trap
   • Restore trap-site to its prior condition
4. Record data
   • Use Global Positioning System (GPS) loggers
   • Use appropriate data sheets or other recording instruments to record details of trap sets and lures as well as target and non-target capture
5. Clean and store equipment and material
   • Clean and store carcases for research or other purposes
   • Clean and store equipment and materials to workplace standards to minimise biosecurity risks
   • Record target and non-target kills
6. Report completion of work
   • Report results of trapping activities, including any incidents with animals

Range Statement

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Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

humanely trap animals and release or destroy the animals as required, following Standard Operating Procedures

identify target and non-target animals present in area

check vehicles, equipment and materials for serviceability and clean equipment before starting and on completing the job

select and prepare the trapping site and restore it on completion of the job

position, set, calibrating and regularly checking trapping equipment

apply lures or baits, if required

select, use and store baits or toxins according to workplace procedures

handle and euthanase captured animals in accordance with animal welfare guidelines

summarise and present trapping data to supervisor

clean and store equipment and carcases using approved chemicals in accordance with Safety Data Sheets and enterprise procedures to minimise biosecurity risks to other animals

apply work health and safety practices in the context of own work

apply appropriate environmental sustainability practices in the context of own work

apply appropriate animal welfare practices in the context of own work

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

basic requirements for ensuring the welfare of animals described in the relevant Codes of Practice

the purpose for trapping the animal

the target animal's range, movement patterns and behaviour and how to apply knowledge of these to selecting trapping location and equipment

the reproductive cycle of the target animal to determine appropriate timing of trapping activities

food preferences, both general and local, of target animals

capture and kill points for target animals

permissions that may be required to undertake trapping

principles relating to property, stock and duty of care

precautions that need to be taken to minimise trapping of non-target animals

how to camouflage traps

how to safely set off traps to render them inactive

work health and safety procedures that relate to trapping animals

recording and reporting requirements

how to use decoys and lures

how to prepare baits or toxins

applicable State or Territory legislation on the use and storage of baits or toxins

applicable legislation on the capture and handling of animals

suitable traps and techniques for the target animal

target animals and non-target native animals also found in the area

suitable personal protective equipment

transportation methods for captured animals

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