Other articles written by Allison Hess

Two hawks in the sky

The possum buffet: bird helps clean up trap catches

Kāhu are messy eaters and have questionable table manners and social skills, but they have become unexpected helpers for Hamish Trolove's possum disposal.
Tongs holding a bundled up pair of tongs over a DOC 200

Old socks and kitchen tongs? 7 accessories to elevate your trapping kit

Beyond the usual gloves, lure, and screwdriver, these trap accessories will help keep your traps rust-free, your gear easier to carry, and your lure safe.
Wings and detatched legs of a dead pukunui

“The rarest bird you’ve never heard of”: last stand against feral cats for southern dotterel

Six rangers and 472 feral cat traps stand between the pukunui (southern NZ dotterel) and oblivion.
A cage trap on the top of a hill. There are various electronic devices (called nodes) attached that send information when the trap is triggered

The future is now: 5 tech advancements for Predator Free 2050

While there’s no magical silver bullet for solving our pest problem, a wave of homegrown innovative tech is rolling out of labs and into the field.
Ruru chicks on a tree

The accidental ruru guru

Rowan Nicholson has been there for moments few have witnessed: nocturnal mating of ruru (morepork) and the wide-eyed wonder of newly hatched chicks.
A collage of predator free experts on a background of stylized DNA

Expert reaction: what does lifting the ‘ban’ on genetic modification mean for predator free?

The government plans to overhaul regulations on genetically modified organisms outside labs. What does this mean for the predator free movement?
Kiwi trail camera footage as if it were a Netflix show.

Your next binge-watch: The Secret Life of Northland Wildlife

Who needs Netflix when you’ve got the secret lives of local wildlife? Kerikeri Peninsula trail cameras capture the unfiltered drama of the animal kingdom.
A collage. Two whio stand in the foreground over photos of small airplanes, superimposed on a map of Fiordland.

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.
Gift guide 2024: presents with purpose

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.
A ferret in the grass

Short-sighted surplus hunters: five fast facts about ferrets

Ferrets are the largest mustelid in New Zealand. These introduced predators have a devastating effect on our native wildlife.
Galaxiid floating in space (composite image)

Guardians of the Galaxiidae: protecting kōkopu eggs from rats

The kōkopu lays its eggs on land, making them an easy target for rats, mice and hedgehogs. A mix of muscle, native seedlings and rat traps are helping keep them safe.
Two women smiling holding wooden trap boxes

In a neighbourhood near you: fresh funding for grassroots trapping

A wave of community-led conservation is sweeping across New Zealand, powered by passion, dedication, and now, an exciting new round of funding.
A stoat inspecting a trap

Catch me if you can: how can we better trap shy female stoats?

Current traps nab more male stoats than females, which is a big problem. Females are basically always pregnant, non-stop baby factories.
A long tailed bat flying over a dusk sky.

Sending up the bat signal: inside the world of bat monitoring

How do you monitor New Zealand’s thumb-sized and virtually silent pekapeka (bats), which fly through the darkness at speeds up to 60km/h?
A collage of dollar signs and photos of community conservation groups.

Show me the money: a closer look at community conservation

A new report reveals the extent of the problems with community conservation funding and provides a to-do list for fixing them.

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