Effectiveness of snap traps on capturing rodent and small mammals in rural area of two provinces (Yogyakarta and West Java) in Indonesia

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of snap traps on capturing the rodents and small mammals in two provinces (Yogyakarta and West Java). A small rural area surrounded by large scale ricecrops which indicate rodent damage seasonally was selected as the study site. The trappings were executed during the period of November 2018 - August 2020. Consecutive trappings were performed in two regions using snap traps baited with fresh salty fish and roasted coconut. Around 40-65 traps were set in West Java study sites and 60-65 traps in Yogyakarta for every single trap night, respectively. We checked the captured animals in the early morning and collected them for identification and sexing. In the late afternoon we continued with cleaning of the traps and put in the new same type of bait. A total of 517 animals were obtained with the proportion of the two sexes was almost the same (45.45% males:54.40% females). Based on the physical characteristics, those captured animals were three rodent species (Rattus argentiventer, Rattus tanezumi, Bandicota indica) and one species of insectivore (Suncus murinus). Regarding trapping rate of success, Yogyakarta denoted average values (21.38% in the first trapping and 26.04% from the second trapping) compared to West Java which was only accounted for half of them (11.31% and 11.24% from the first and second trapping, respectively). The heterogeneous habitat configuration probably allowed this situation to occur in Yogyakarta. Moreover, rodent control activities in West Java were implemented more intensively compared to Yogyakarta.