Using WSN for possum management

The introduction of mammalian species such as rats, stoats and possums into New Zealand has proven devastating to what was once a pristine ecosystem. Unlike the accidental introduction of rats and stoats, Possum were introduced with the intention of establishing a fur trade. Pest populations rapidly grew with an abundance of vegetation and few predators. As a result, rats, stoats and possums have had a extremely destructive impact on New Zealand´s native flora and fauna. Over the years there have been many attempts to monitor and control the mammalian pest population. Digital multi-animal monitoring and recording devices, and multi-kill self-resetting toxin delivery solutions have recently been developed which are aimed at providing more efficient and labour saving pest management. A wireless mesh sensor network is a cost-effective and suitable architecture for remotely monitoring these digital devices in pest management applications. This paper presents the current status of a `Mammalian Pest Management´ project and proposes a Wireless Sensor Actuator Network (WSAN) designed for the remote monitoring of these pest management system.