A trap box in the bush

Predator control: there’s no one tool to rule them all

An intricate web of ecological, technological, and logistical challenges makes it clear that, much like the Fellowship in Middle-Earth, a diverse range of tools and skills is required. To protect 34,000 hectares from mountain to sea the Taranaki Mounga conservation project uses every available tool.  Getting it right can potentially improve the fortunes of native … Continue reading Predator control: there’s no one tool to rule them all

Snapshots from the past: 10 years of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust

Join us on a journey through time as we celebrate a decade of achievements with the Predator Free New Zealand Trust, from humble beginnings to conservation milestones. A group of passionate conservationists rallied behind the fact that our generation may be the last to save our unique native bird, bat and insect species before they’re … Continue reading Snapshots from the past: 10 years of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust

Weasel with a blackbird.

Bird count not body count: weasel study suggests recovery of native species more important than predator kill count

Described as “murderous saveloys with legs”, new research reveals weasels cannot be underestimated as a threat to native wildlife. It is suggested we pay closer attention to the recovery of native species rather than simply counting the number of predators killed. The impact of stoats is well documented, but DOC ranger Jamie McAulay and wildlife … Continue reading Bird count not body count: weasel study suggests recovery of native species more important than predator kill count

Babs and Jon Tucker on a forest walk

Children’s author goes ‘predator free’ in latest adventure novel

‘When children’s author, Jon Tucker, was a teenager growing up in Nelson, he married the girl next door and they began to build a boat together; not just a dinghy or small sailboat, but an “old-fashioned, romantic” traditional ketch that they named ‘New Zealand Maid’. Jon and Babs later became teachers and had five sons … Continue reading Children’s author goes ‘predator free’ in latest adventure novel

A group in bright yellow work shifts make traps

Tangihua Lions Lodge expands its outdoor programme to combat predators

Gerald Mannion has a story about the ‘moment of truth’ when he and fellow Tangihua Lions Lodge trustees realised just how much damage introduced predators had done to their forest. But first, a little background… Thirty years ago, the Whangarei Mid Western Lions, a bunch of local farmers, decided that all young people should have … Continue reading Tangihua Lions Lodge expands its outdoor programme to combat predators

John teaching a predator control workshop

How do you make a habitat safe for kiwi? A Q&A with John Bissell

John Bissell of Save the Kiwi wants quality, not quantity, predator control. “Give me better, not just more,” says John.  John is Save the Kiwi’s National Predator Advisor. He works on projects across the country specialising in high-quality predator control to protect threatened species like kiwi. John is a predator control expert with many years … Continue reading How do you make a habitat safe for kiwi? A Q&A with John Bissell

A24 self-resetting trap.

Target rats in the bush

ON THIS PAGE Trapping rats in the bush How to monitor results Bait stations for rats Trapping rats in the bush The type of trap you choose will depend on your budget and the amount of time you have to check them. If rat numbers are high, trapping may be a time-consuming and ineffective method … Continue reading Target rats in the bush

A cat roaming in the grass

The feral factor – new research into roaming feral cats

Feral cats live on every continent except Antarctica – surviving in deserts, forests, farms, and cities. But even though they can live almost anywhere, some habitats are more appealing than others.  New research published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology found that landscape type might play a role in how far feral cats wander. … Continue reading The feral factor – new research into roaming feral cats

A group of people on a boat.

Putting down roots

A gutsy group of Queen Charlotte Sound locals are chasing their dream of a regenerated native forest. Propelled by community camaraderie the group has removed wilding pines, brought down goat and possum numbers and is now ready to start planting natives on a swath of land between Picton and the Tory Channel. Growing community Queen … Continue reading Putting down roots

A skink on a red rock

Sunny side up: skinks are changing up their sun-bathing to avoid cats

When four-legged predators first arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand, the native wildlife didn’t know what had hit them. That was over 200 years ago. Now there’s growing evidence that at least some of our wildlife are wising up to mammalian predators and changing their behaviour accordingly.  So far, most of the research has been about … Continue reading Sunny side up: skinks are changing up their sun-bathing to avoid cats

Cam Speedy demonstrates a flour paste

Target possums in the bush

Below we summarise the pros and cons of trapping, shooting and/or using bait stations for targeting possums. ON THIS PAGE Possum control options Bait stations for possums Trapping possums in the bush Night shooting How to monitor results Possum control options  First, make sure you have permission to trap on the land (e.g. from private … Continue reading Target possums in the bush

Maukahuka Pest Free Auckland Island: Will it work?

This week marks the publication of the Maukahuka Pest Free Auckland Island project report on the technical feasibility of eradicating pigs, cats and mice from Auckland Island. This is the most significant milestone since the eradication of pigs from the island was first raised in 1982. Over the last four years, the Department of Conservation … Continue reading Maukahuka Pest Free Auckland Island: Will it work?

Rat-trapping has a long history in Aotearoa

Rat-trapping started early in Aotearoa’s history. The Polynesian ancestors of Māori brought the kiore across the Pacific in their voyaging waka, probably around the 13th Century AD and early Māori developed several types of ingenious rat traps to catch them. Aotea, Horouta and Māmari waka traditions mention that kiore were passengers on their voyages to … Continue reading Rat-trapping has a long history in Aotearoa

A weasel

Weasel facts and control tips

ON THIS PAGE How did they get here? What do weasels look like? Where do they live? What do we know about weasel behaviour? What impact do they have? How you can help control weasels How did they get here? Weasels were introduced in the late 1800s, along with stoats and ferrets, to control the … Continue reading Weasel facts and control tips

Stoat facts and control tips

ON THIS PAGE How did they get here? What do stoats look like? Where do they live? What do we know about stoat behaviour? What impact do they have? How you can help control stoats How did they get here? Along with ferrets and weasels, stoats were introduced in the late 1800s to control the … Continue reading Stoat facts and control tips

Cat hunting Photo Llan We (Wikimedia Commons)

Cat facts and control tips

ON THIS PAGE How did cats get here? What impact do cats have? What do we know about cat behaviour? How can you be a responsible cat owner?  Controlling stray and feral cats How did cats get here? Cats were one of the first introduced species to thrive in New Zealand. They arrived with European … Continue reading Cat facts and control tips

A deer in amongst leaves

Monitoring shows ungulates increasing on public conservation land

Not all introduced mammals are predators. Apart from omnivorous pigs, the 14 types of ungulate (hooved) mammals introduced here over the years are all plant-grazers of one sort or another. But restoring habitat and removing predators go hand-in-hand if we’re to reverse the downward spiral of our native wildlife. Large, heavy-hooved browsing mammals can damage … Continue reading Monitoring shows ungulates increasing on public conservation land

A close up of beech trees

Blue Mountains study shows 1080 effective – even for hedgehogs, mice

In the past there’s been some uncertainty over the effectiveness of large-scale aerial 1080 operations to control mice and little is known about its effect on hedgehogs. Recent trail camera monitoring of mammal predators before and after a control operation in the Blue Mountains, West Otago, suggests the operation not only controlled rats, stoats and … Continue reading Blue Mountains study shows 1080 effective – even for hedgehogs, mice

No easy answers, but eradication efforts ongoing for Resolution Island

When the Resolution Island Stoat Eradication Programme began in Dusky Sound, Fiordland in 2008 no-one said it would be easy and, 12 years later there are still stoats on Resolution. But Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger, Peter McMurtrie, won’t be giving up any time soon. “There are two issues, Pete explains. “Firstly, there are some … Continue reading No easy answers, but eradication efforts ongoing for Resolution Island

Map of Auckland Island

Auckland Islands introductions included horses, possums, chickens

Did you know there were once horses on the Auckland Islands? Possums were deliberately introduced too but didn’t last long. Hardly surprising. It’s a harsh environment and not remotely like their warm Australian homeland. Scientists investigating mammal predators in the Auckland Islands group have switched to studying history recently, looking at the very early records … Continue reading Auckland Islands introductions included horses, possums, chickens

Image of cliffs and the water below

Would summer eradication of rodents work for Auckland Island?

Approximately one-third of New Zealand’s islands are now free of all invasive mammals. Could Auckland Island be next? Predator control and eradication operations are often carried out in winter – when predators are hungry and uptake of bait likely to be greater. But when it comes to eradications of sub-Antarctic islands, like Auckland Island, the … Continue reading Would summer eradication of rodents work for Auckland Island?

The results are in: Where to next for Pest Free Auckland Island?

Four months on from the first boat leaving for Auckland Island, all the field teams are home safely for the winter. A whirlwind summer has seen great gains in knowledge about the island and has given valuable insights into how the ambitious plan to remove pigs, cats and mice might work. Field trials to inform … Continue reading The results are in: Where to next for Pest Free Auckland Island?

A group of people planting in a wetland

Otuwhero Wetland Trust cites ‘sporting benefits’ of volunteer work

“Community conservation work should be designated a sport,” Helen Lindsay believes, “Then it might get more funding.” Helen is Chair of the Otuwhero Wetland Trust and cites the (sporting) benefits of being part of a conservation volunteer team. “It has good social benefits,” she says. “You’re working with people who have the same interests, it’s … Continue reading Otuwhero Wetland Trust cites ‘sporting benefits’ of volunteer work

A helicopter takes gear from a boat

Trials test feasibility of removing pigs, cats and mice from Auckland Island

Trials are in full swing down in the Southern Ocean exploring whether it’s possible to rid Auckland Island of its three remaining introduced predators – pigs, cats and mice. Following the successful eradication of mice from Antipodes Island, the Department of Conservation has turned its attention to the last island within the New Zealand Subantarctic … Continue reading Trials test feasibility of removing pigs, cats and mice from Auckland Island

A shot from above of the fenced enclosure

Vision for buff weka drives Motatapu Station restoration

With a vision to re-establish the once-common buff weka, Motatapu Station near Wanaka is tackling habitat restoration and predator control on an impressively large scale. Just check out the numbers so far: What’s even more impressive, is that predator control on the ground is carried out by just three people – station supervisor Russell Hamilton, … Continue reading Vision for buff weka drives Motatapu Station restoration

Trap and Trigger takes out Innovation Award

Jordan and Mikayla Munn are recent winners of $25,000 in the WWF 2017 Innovation Awards with their venture to use top-of-the-line, military quality, thermal imaging technology to detect and help in the removal of invasive animals. ‘Trap and Trigger Ltd’, the young couple’s conservation and wildlife management company, has already invested hugely in the technology … Continue reading Trap and Trigger takes out Innovation Award

Dianne setting a trap

Kiwibank helps launch Picton backyard trapping initiative

When Picton organisers heard they’d won a competition to become a Kiwibank Predator Free Community earlier this year, they called a public meeting – and a hundred people turned up! “It was a very good turnout,” says co-ordinator Siobain Browning. “The Kiwibank funding gave us the opportunity to organise a big event and talk to … Continue reading Kiwibank helps launch Picton backyard trapping initiative

A black and orange cat lying down

Tracking cats on Rakiura/Stewart Island

While PFNZ Trust focuses on 5 key introduced predator species (possums, rats, ferrets, stoats and weasels), we acknowledge that domestic pets – both cats and dogs – are also introduced predators and are potential killers of native wildlife if allowed to stray. Wandering dogs can and do kill kiwi and penguins when they encounter them. … Continue reading Tracking cats on Rakiura/Stewart Island

A kākā mid slight with it's wings fully extended

Pest-free future under the microscope

In a paper just published online (and not available in print until 2017), some of New Zealand’s top conservation scientists review the prospects for control and eventual eradication of our key mammalian pests. John Parkes, Graham Nugent, David Forsyth, Andrea Byrom, Roger Pech, Bruce Warburton and David Choquenot have written a comprehensive paper looking at … Continue reading Pest-free future under the microscope

Possum walking along the ground

New business venture finds growing market for possum meat

When it comes to possums, Zach Howarth believes in ‘utilising it all’. He’s about to sell his first shipment of possum meat to petfood manufacturer ‘Possyum’. Currently there’s a ½ tonne of possum meat sitting in Zach’s brand new chiller in Tahawai, a couple of kms up the road from Katikati. That’s 288 dead possums, … Continue reading New business venture finds growing market for possum meat

Going Native — Third Island rat catching with Goodnature by Paul Stanley Ward

I got a text from my mate Robbie, “Wanna come down Rakiura-Stewart Island and check some traps?” I’d never been to the ‘Third Island’, and had heard enough raves about backyard kaka and beaches chocka with kiwi to make my answer obvious. This bird nerd was raring for a range in Rakiura. Robbie is one … Continue reading Going Native — Third Island rat catching with Goodnature by Paul Stanley Ward