A Rotorua pest trapping trust says it may have to install security cameras to protect its traps after about 20 have been stolen in recent months.

Members of the Whakarewarewa Pest Free Trust, whose volunteers rely on donations to trap pest species in the forest, say they are disappointed the traps have been taken and about the loss of time and money invested to fix the problem.

Red Stag project manager Anthony Garea says 16 "DoC 200" traps and four "Trapinator" traps, worth $70 each, have been stolen from the forest recently and trust volunteers have had to remove or relocate other traps to prevent further thefts.

Anthony says while the trust does not have concrete evidence they suspect the traps have been targeted by illegal poachers who are after possum fur.

"We have also been finding leg traps in the forest and we also found a bag of possum fur so we suspect someone has been illegally trapping them and selling them on."

He says both the council and Department of Conservation have been advised.

The Whakarewarewa Pest Free Trust covers approximately 200 hectares in and around the Tokorangi Triangle, Waipa, Puarenga Stream, Blue Lake/Tikitapu and Whakarewarewa Forest with around 100 volunteers servicing about 1000 traps.

"We are in the process of replacing them and for that, we'll need some more funding.

"But it's not just the traps, it's also the extra volunteer hours put into location and replacement when we could be doing better things with our time."

Keen young pest trapper, Anthony, is annoyed all of his traps in the Whakarewarewa Forest around Lynmore have been stolen. Photo/Supplied

He says the last thing the trust wants to do is install security cameras as that was a waste of time and money.

"We are looking into remote cameras, but that's another cost we don't need and don't really want to do."

He says the thefts started about two months ago "...and it seems to be happening in other areas as well".

"Some have been destroyed by vandalism, but this is the first time in three years we have targeted by theft.

"Yes, we're disappointed and it's a hassle to replace them...but we'll keep going," says Anthony.

For more information about the trust or how to get involved, visit www.whakarewarewapestfree.co.nz.