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Slow the Spread of the Gypsy Moth Project Trapping Manual


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The Trap Code – Trap Check and Removal

During trap check and removal the code entered into the GPS or Gadget differs from trap set. The first 9 digits are the same ones used at trap set these being the trap name. We need them again so we know which trap is being visited. With the extra information we will be able to tell if it was a check or removal, the trap condition, and whether or not there were moths in the trap. The trap code at trap inspection will look like this on the GPS: HUDSO0101MG000 (quad) or 005002015FD001 (county).




GPS cursor

Position: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Quad Site Trap Trap Trap

Abbreviation Number Check Condition Catch

First 9 digits are the trap name and are the same as trap set.


Immediately following the SITE NUMBER, add the following information:
The TRAP CHECK will be entered in position 10. Enter one of the following codes for the type of check:
M- Midseason (trap check): entered for any trap check, even if you visit the trap more than once before removal.

F- Final (trap removal) - only used when taking the trap down at the end of the season
The TRAP CONDITION will be entered in position 11. Enter one of the following codes for the condition of the trap:

G - Good

D Damaged (trap must be replaced if it’s trap check)

M - Missing (a new trap is hung if it’s trap check)

I Inaccessible
The CATCH will be entered in positions 12-14. Enter the actual catch value; include negative finds and leading zeros. Example: an empty trap would be entered as 000, 1 moth would be entered 001, and 11 moths would be entered as 011.
Example: HUDSO0101MG011
If the trap is Missing or Inaccessible do not enter any trap catch. A zero means no moths were detected which is not the same as no data or a null value.
Example: HUDSO0101MM
Replacing Traps
A trap must be replaced for any of the following reasons:


  1. Missing trap: Make absolutely sure that the trap is missing. The first time you check your traps you may think a lot of them are missing. Some of them may be on the ground or you won’t find them right away. Look around a bit to determine if the trap is actually missing. The simple sketch map in your survey notebook will help you pinpoint the trap location once you are in the vicinity.




  1. Damaged traps:

    • Dirty or damaged trap - ripped or torn to the extent that a male gypsy moth would not be retained in the trap if one flew in, or the sticky material is covered with dust, dirt or other materials that jeopardize the integrity of the trap.

    • Full of insects or spiders

    • Lure strip immersed in sticky material

    • Bird or other animal in the trap - When the trap is properly constructed and closed this should not happen. However, there are some persistent critters out there that will find their way into the trap!


Protocol for replacing traps:

  • Copy all information from the original trap to the new trap adding date of check.

  • Hang the new trap in the exact location as the old trap.

  • Record in your notebook the date and reason that the trap was replaced.

Removing Traps at Final Check


  1. Open both ends of the trap for a thorough last check.




  1. Enter a final GPS record and complete all necessary paperwork immediately.




  1. Retain traps for inventory if your supervisor requires it.




  1. Go on to the next trap.



PLEASE NOTE: All equipment and unused supplies must be returned in good condition on checkout day. Allow enough time to go through checkout procedures. You will be held accountable for your equipment. Returned items damaged due to normal field use will not be charged to you.
Every trap must be removed and accounted for.
Landowner Refusal

Removing or replacing unwanted traps
You may be instructed to return to a site to remove a trap or you may be notified (possibly by the homeowner) that the trap has been destroyed. If possible, locate an available site nearby and reset the trap.


  • Take a new GPS reading using the same trap name, make a note and inform your lead worker.

  • Record the changes in your survey notebook and map records.

  • If trap can’t be reset, mark notebook and map location as an omitted site

  • Take a new GPS reading for the trap set and include an “O” for omitted and “L” for omit reason.

  • Notify your supervisor of the new record, as it will cause an error at the database and need to be addressed.


Trapper Gadget: The trapper gadget does not allow edits to data once it has been recorded. In the event of a landowner refusal all GPS transactions will need to take place using the Garmin GPS. Make a note in the survey notebook so you remember to use the Garmin at trap check and remove as the Gadget won’t allow you to record a visit if the trap has been moved more than 100 feet.
Note: If a landowner instructs you to remove the trap or indicates that it has been destroyed, highlight this location on your map and let your supervisor know. Record as much information about the site as possible, including address. This information will help us avoid hostile situations for future trappers.
Garmin 60CSX GPS

1. Getting started


  • Turn on the GPS – press and hold power button until you hear a beep.




POWER



  • Welcome screen appears.

  • Allow the GPS to cycle to the satellite screen on its own (will take a few seconds).








  • Acquiring satellites screen will appear. It may take 30 seconds to lock onto the satellites. Could take slightly longer if you moved 50 miles or so from last acquisition point.

  • Make sure you allow the GPS to lock onto a 3D location before marking your waypoint or the last position may be recorded for the waypoint.




  • Once four or more satellites are in view overhead, the accuracy screen will appear.

  • If accuracy is over 100 feet, wait a few seconds to see if the GPS will realign satellite configuration for a better signal (10-25 ft. is average).






2. Recording Waypoints


  • Press Mark





  • Mark waypoint screen will appear.

  • Use the Rocker Keypad to scroll up to the location box (001 defaulted in the box) and press enter.





  • Replace the default waypoint name with the trap location (alpha-numeric codes) established for your state by using the rocker keypad. Shift/arrow up key changes between upper and lower case letters and activates the number pad to the right.

  • After entering trap location, move cursor to OK above shift arrow and hit enter.




  • Record UTM location in trap log.

  • Scroll cursor to OK at the bottom of the waypoint screen and press Enter. Once the waypoint screen disappears, you have successfully captured the location information.






  1. View/ Edit/ Delete Stored Waypoints



  • Press . Then use the rocker keypad and scroll to Waypoints and press Enter.



  • With Rocker Keypad scroll to desired waypoint and press Enter. If you have numerous waypoints, you can press menu while on the waypoint screen and choose Find by Name to locate the file without scrolling through the entire list. Type in the trap name and press OK.

  • At this point you can choose Delete, Map (shows on the loaded road map) or Go To which will navigate you back to the location.

  • NOTE: Warning! When you press menu from the waypoint list screen, it will allow you to find by nearest, by symbol or delete all waypoints and/or all waypoints by symbol. Trappers should not “Delete All”. This function is to be completed by trapper supervisors or the Agency Trapping Coordinator.






  1. Other Information


or - can be used to switch between all main GPS loaded screens.
- is used to back out of any sub menu item. (i.e. Waypoint, Mark Waypoint, Find or other windows that may appear on the screen due to choosing a wrong menu item.)




DO NOT edit UTMs while entering Trap Location unless approved by Trapper Supervisor.
Prior to marking a waypoint and saving it to the GPS, it’s a good habit to check the Satellite Status Screen for signal status. If 2D GPS Location or accuracy over 75 ft is found, the signal quality is less than desired. Allow signal to strengthen before entering position. Signal quality should improve. If not, document info into your Trap Log.

Note- This doesn’t happen very often.



What the GPS Tells Us
The GPS data collected each time you mark a waypoint is the foundation for all of the databases, maps, statistics and reports the STS project produces each year. The trapcode you enter on each trap visit is the primary data entry for the entire program.
In addition to the trapcode, the GPS collects the date, time and location of each trap visit. This information is used to add value to data entered in the trapcode. The date becomes important when moths are flying as it gives us a snapshot of the moth life cycle.
From the data entered by you and the data collected by the GPS unit we get:

  • Physical location of trap

  • Date of trap set, check and removal

  • Number of trap visits

  • Presence of moths

  • A timeframe of when moth flight is occurring

  • The condition of each trap, a data quality assurance because a damaged trap may not collect moths

  • Number of days each trap was deployed

  • The type of sites moths are being found (important for regulatory actions!)

Because the GPS data is the backbone of the entire data stream, expect your supervisor to spend some time checking over the files downloaded from the units each week. Any inconsistency must be checked and confirmed lest the error make it to the database causing confusion, heartache or worse, loss of data. We do what we can in the office using GIS tools and the target circles, but sometimes the only way to figure out what is going on is to check the paper records kept by each trapper. Paper records provide not only a backup should GPS data be lost, but a redundancy which we can check against when things appear to have gone awry.


That is why GPS data is so important and why the paper records must also be maintained. Fewer GPS data entry errors means fewer calls from lead workers and GIS staff trying to figure out what is going on!
DATA ENTRY ERRORS ARE THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO ENTER ALL DATA CAREFULLY AND CORRECTLY.

Getting Inside the Target Circle


Grid Type

Inter-trap Distance (meters)

Target Circle Radius (meters)

Target Circle Radius

(miles)

Target Circle Radius

(feet)

8k

8000

2400

1.49

7874

4mi

6437

1930

1.2

6332

5k

5000

1500

0.93

4921

3mi

4828

1448

0.9

4751

2 mi

3219

965

0.6

3166

3 k

3000

900

0.56

2953

1x2 mi

2276

683

0.42

2241

2 k

2000

600

0.37

1968

1 mi

1609

483

0.30

1585

1 k

1000

300

0.19

984

4/mi

805

240

0.15

787

9/mi

536

160

0.1

525

500 m

500

150

0.09

492

250 m

250

75

0.05

246

To determine the spacing for your maps, use the scale bar on the map to measure the distance from the center of one target circle to the center of the next target circle. Then use the table above to determine how close you need to be to the site node to be within the target circle.



It is also possible to determine the grid spacing using your GPS and the pre-loaded target points using the Measure Distance tool to measure between two points on the screen.

On the Map Screen, press Menu, select Measure Distance and press ENTER. You are returned to the Map Screen.


Use the Rocker Keypad to move the map pointer noticing the distance readout in the upper left corner of the map screen. You are currently measuring the distance from your current location (the black triangle) to the map cursor. By pressing ENTER you set the current map cursor location as an anchor point, and using the rocker keypad, moving the cursor will give you a distance from the anchor to the new cursor location. A dashed line indicates the distance being measured.
Now scroll your map cursor to the next waypoint and look at the distance readout. In the example, it is 1.5 km from Whitw0113 to Whitw0112. The grid spacing here is 1500 meters, the target circle is 30% the grid spacing, so 500 meters is a good approximation for the target circle (450 would be the actual, but we won’t fuss about it).










Using a Compass – The Basics
Your compass will play a vital role in navigating to trap locations. Even with the GPS unit you should know how to properly use a compass; in fact, the compass and GPS unit work very well as a team.

Here is a very simple explanation of your compass. A compass is simply a dial with directional and 360 degree markings around the edge, a magnetized needle with one end painted red indicates magnetic north. For a compass to function properly it must sit flat so the needle is able to rotate freely; it is also important to avoid having your compass near metal objects that can attract the point of the needle.

Because a compass needle always points north you are able to use a compass for several navigation tasks. First determine direction, second walk a desired bearing and third with a map determine necessary direction of travel. Here are steps to complete each of these tasks.


Determine Direction

1. Hold the compass level in the palm of your hand, chest high, with the red direction of travel-arrow facing away from your body.


2. Rotate the compass housing so that the orienting arrow and the direction of travel-arrow align.
3. Turn your body including your feet until the red end of the compass needle aligns with the orienting arrow.
4. You are now facing north. West is to your left, east is to your right and south is behind you.

Walk a Desired Bearing

This is a very important functionality because your GPS will tell you the bearing you need to walk in order to get to a trap location. However, because as you walk and satellite strength changes the GPS may continuously change bearing. You can use your compass to limit your reliability on your GPS and avoid staring at your GPS as the direction it tells you to walk jumps around.


1. Make sure you have a strong GPS signal and you are standing still. Read the bearing provided by the GPS to the trap location you are trying to reach.
2. Turn the compass housing so that the given bearing number aligns with the white line (mark) and the red direction of travel-arrow facing away from you.
3. Turn your body including feet so that the red end of the needle aligns with the orienting arrow.
4. Begin walking in that direction making sure to keep the arrows aligned.
5. It may be helpful to stop every 50 ft or so and align with an object in the distance that allows the needle to stay aligned with the orienting arrow. Then when you get to that object find another object in the distance and continue.
Determine Necessary Direction of Travel

To do this you will need a map of the area you are in (with a north arrow or meridian lines) and your compass. This can be very helpful if your GPS stops working. You will still be able to navigate and get to your next trap location or back to your car.


1. Place your compass flat on the map with the red direction of travel-arrow facing the direction of desired travel, with the long edge creating a straight line between points A and B.
2. Turn the compass housing until the orienting arrow points north on the map/aligns with the meridian lines.
** There are a number of serious mistakes that can be made here. Be absolutely certain that you know where north is on the map, and be sure that the orienting arrow is pointing towards the north on the map. Normally, north will be up on the map. The possible mistake is to let the orienting arrow point towards the south on the map.
And then, keep an eye on the edge of the compass. If the edge isn't going along the line from A to B when you have finished turning the compass housing, you will have an error in your direction, and it can take you off your course.
3. When you are sure you have the compass housing right, you may take the compass away from the map. And now, you can in fact read the azimuth off the housing, from where the housing meets the direction arrow.
The last step is the same as Walking a Desired Bearing, steps 3, 4 and 5.

Call your supervisor and inform him/her that you are having GPS problems. We will do whatever is necessary to keep your GPS unit working well. You can still set/check/remove traps even if your GPS unit is not working. Make sure your Survey Notebook Records are filled out as completely as possible!! Please make certain your maps are complete and accurate as they will be the only record of the trap location, and your supervisor will need to be able to easily locate the trap to gather the missing data.

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