TRACKING TUNNELS

Black Trakka has developed a system ideal for monitoring the presence of mammals and insects.

A suitable sized tunnel is placed in a control area and within the tunnel is a monitoring card.

This card is of wet strength material and in the standard system is 500mm in length and 100mmin width. In the middle of the card is a sealed strip on which is placed a non drying, water resistant ink of specified viscosity.

When an animal is attracted into the tunnel as a result of a lure it moves across the inked area.

With ink on its feet the animal leaves tracks on the absorbent section of the card. Oil within the ink is taken into the cardboard leaving high definition tracks. These tracks allow individual animals to be identified [ differing widths, lengths and pad types]. The tracks of Rattus rattus are easily separated from those of Rattus Norvegicus.

Thus control measures can be very effectively monitored.

This system also allows for the gathering of insect tracks. Cockroaches and even ants can be recorded.

We believe the collection of insect tracks to be a world first. As the pads on the underside of insect feet vary it is possible to build a local data base.

The standard tunnel is 500mm in length and100mm in both height and width.

We have another unit that is 250mm in length and 65 mm in both width and height.

The cards are folded in half and sealed in oxygen barrier bags. Shelf life is in excess of 9 months. This is increased indefinitely when the cards are stored in refrigerated conditions.