Think Like a Predator: The Art of Effective Trapping (with John Bissell)

Written By Callum Armstrong

(Note: you can also listen to this episode on YouTube or Spotify)

Can poor-quality predator control be worse than no control at all? According to one of New Zealand's leading trapping experts, the answer might surprise you.

In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, John Bissell, owner of Backblocks Environmental Management and National Predator Control Advisor for Save the Kiwi, challenges conventional thinking about removing introduced predators.

Drawing from decades of experience as a professional predator hunter and conservation specialist, John reveals why treating them as intelligent adversaries - rather than assuming they'll blindly walk into any trap - is crucial for success.

Through real-world examples and trail camera observations, he demonstrates how careful attention to detail and understanding animal behaviour can dramatically improve conservation outcomes.

It's not just about how many traps we set. It's about approaching each trap setup with strategy, care, and monitoring the outcomes to understand if we’re removing enough to protect our native taonga species.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

  • Why quality in predator control matters more than quantity

  • The importance of thinking like a predator to catch one

  • How trap-shy animals develop and why they're a growing challenge

  • The importance of baseline monitoring and measuring outcomes

  • How trail cameras are revealing surprising predator behaviours and intelligence

  • Why proper trap setup and maintenance is crucial for success

  • The transformation of Wellington's biodiversity through effective predator control

  • Tips for community groups starting predator control projects

  • Why combining old-world skills with new technology is crucial

  • And much more…

👩About John:

John Bissell is the owner of Backblocks Environmental Management Ltd, and he is also the National Predator Control Advisor for Save the Kiwi. John is adamant that removing introduced predators to protect one species, like kiwi, also benefits many other native species at place.

John’s main area of mahi is in predator control and threatened species protection. His speciality is in finding and removing the one hard-to-get predator in a large landscape, and he has a good number of successful resolutions under his belt. The lessons he has learned ‘chasing one’, have also helped him shape new methods and tricks to help him catch more.

As well as boots-on-the-ground delivery, John’s role is increasingly centred around supporting and training people and projects in this line of work, and he is equally passionate about this side of his mahi. John refers to himself as a NZ predator hunter and he will happily tell story after story of the many other good people out there doing the same.

🔗Learn more:

🎙️About the podcast:

The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

🔗Connect with us:

Callum Armstrong
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Dogs and Kiwi: Creating Space for Both to Thrive (with Emma Craig)