Kākāpō comeback: will Predator Free Rakiura restore a lost wilderness?
Once, under the towering rimu and tōtara of Rakiura (Stewart Island), the booming calls of kākāpō resonated through the night. These moss-green, flightless parrots thrived…
A day in the life: Predator Free Wellington
From suburban backyards to the steep south coast, Predator Free Wellington’s field staff are methodically clearing the capital city of rats. Curious about their day-to-day…
No roads, no problem: how planes are saving Fiordland’s whio
A surprise population of rare whio (blue duck) has sparked the expansion of traplines in Fiordland’s isolated Kaipo Valley. But how can we lay and…
Kiwi artists using stunning art to help save nature
In a world where environmental crises are becoming increasingly urgent, what role can art play in driving change? These four New Zealand artists are creating…
The Spitfire: outsmarting possums with their own habits
The new device delivers a deadly dose of toxin straight onto a predator’s fur as it enjoys a free meal. Later, the unsuspecting animal ingests…
Saving nature, stress relief, sausie sizzle: what keeps volunteers committed?
Conservation thrives on volunteers; in fact, many efforts in Aotearoa simply couldn’t survive without them. So what, exactly, is the magic recipe that keeps volunteers…
Gift guide 2024: presents with purpose
Here is a list of gift ideas that go towards protecting and restoring wildlife that trappers, bird nerds, adventurers, and readers will *actually* use. There’s…
Keep going: five more things to do if your trap isn’t catching rats
Have you tried some of our troubleshooting tips but still struggle to catch predators? It doesn’t mean there aren’t any left out there. Here are…
Cat meets conservation: the unlikely story of a wildlife rescuer and her new pet
Biologist and wildlife rehabber Sabrina Luecht never expected she would one day become a proud cat owner. Her work, after all, revolves around saving native…
Laundry baskets and dummy eggs: caring for albatross
Toroa (northern royal albatross) soar the skies over the sea, sleep on the waves and don’t return to land for years. When it’s time to…
World first: revival of the rat-specific toxin
A new breakthrough in predator control is on the horizon — a rat-specific toxin that leaves birds, pets, and livestock unharmed. Scientists worldwide have been…
Short-sighted surplus hunters: five fast facts about ferrets
With their black eye mask, ferrets might remind you of the Hamburglar. But instead of targeting hamburgers, they are adept hunters with a wide range…
Dogs, AI, heat-detecting drones: chasing the last possums on the Otago Peninsula
Not many people can say they routinely carry around a jar of possum poo, but Jonah Kitto-Verhoef does. It’s not just any jar — it’s…
Booming swamp ninjas: five facts about the elusive Australasian bittern
You might not know of matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) – with fewer than 1,000 living in New Zealand, they’re rarer than whio or hoiho. This secretive…
It’s business time: stoat mating mania and what you can do about it
Spring has sprung and the stoat mating frenzy has begun. From the moment they open their eyes as babies, female stoats are almost certainly already…
