Things you should know

In early September, a unique summer visitor to Aotearoa begins to grace our shores, migrating from the tropics. The pīpīwharauroa (shining cuckoo) certainly make an impression with their intriguing behaviours. From unusual breeding strategies to quirky culinary tastes, here are 5 curious facts about the shining cuckoo. 1. You won’t see a shining cuckoo raising … Continue reading Mystery, migration and mucous membranes: 5 curious facts about the shining cuckoo

That little line above certain vowels makes a big difference when it comes to the pronunciation and meaning of te reo Māori. Illustrator Matt Russell takes a closer look at why tohutō (macron) matter when it comes to te reo taiao (language of the environment). Enable macrons on your phone (Android and Apple) and computer … Continue reading Comic: macrons matter

Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity extends far beyond our feathery friends. Prepare to be wowed by these five native species, from bizarre fuzzy weevils to very smelly bats. Elephant weevils – the fuzzy architects of the trees The elephant weevil is a strange critter found throughout New Zealand. This stout little insect is adorned with an … Continue reading 5 weird and wonderful native animals that aren’t birds

So, you’ve set your possum trap, hoping to make a dent in the possum population destroying your fruit trees and eating birds’ eggs and invertebrates in your backyard…but your trap remains untouched. It’s time to try our troubleshooting tips to turn your luck around: 1. Find the right spot First things first, let’s check your … Continue reading Troubleshooting tips: what to do if your possum trap isn’t catching any possums

Is peanut butter not attracting predators like it used to? Let’s shake things up with five lures that’ll make your trap the hottest dining spot for rats, stoats or possums. But first, we need to understand the feeding behaviour of the introduced predators we’re trying to trap. Rats are the ultimate omnivores. They don’t discriminate … Continue reading What’s on the menu? 5 lures that aren’t peanut butter

Do cats rule us, or do we rule cats? When your fluffy friend lounges across your laptop keyboard or nibbles you on the ankle when dinner isn’t laid out fast enough, it seems like the answer is debatable, but here’s something that isn’t: owning a cat comes with responsibilities.  Our roaming domestic cats are hunting … Continue reading 5 ways to up your game as a responsible cat owner

Every trapper has felt the same frustration at checking a trap and finding the bait gone, but the trap still set. Who is the culprit, and how can you stop them? Peanut butter, mayonnaise, Nutella and dried meat are tasty treats to lure in rats or possums, but they aren’t the only ones who enjoy … Continue reading Is your bait disappearing, but you’re catching nothing?

Are you a pro at spotting tūī and kererū? Here are five more native backyard birds to get to know. Use appearance, sounds and behaviours as clues for identification. Taking note of the birds in your backyard is more than just fun. The Garden Bird Survey needs you to identify and count birds to help … Continue reading What bird is in my backyard?

More kinds of toroa (albatross) breed in Aotearoa New Zealand, than anywhere else in the world. Get to know them this World Albatross Day and try our quiz. Predator free islands in our subantarctic region stand as the last remaining strongholds for toroa survival worldwide. Their breeding grounds are safe thanks to massive predator eradication … Continue reading A tour of toroa

Recently several animal welfare, conservation organisations and government agencies submitted their thoughts on national cat management. It may be surprising that there was a lot of agreement – here’s what they had to say. Parliament’s Environment Select Committee asked the organisations to share their views on the Petition of Erica Rowlands, requesting the mandatory registration … Continue reading Animal welfare agencies’ views on cat management 

At one point, possums in New Zealand rivaled the sheep population. Brought into New Zealand to start a fur trade in 1837, the brushtail possum population exploded beyond settlers’ wildest dreams (or nightmares) to an estimated peak of 70 million possums in the 1980s, same as sheep. They are found throughout the country, all the … Continue reading 7 surprising facts you should know about possums

We have some easy ways to set yourself (and your traps) up for success using trail cameras. Predator control specialist Cam Speedy’s five simple tips will improve your camera skills in no time. If you’re tired of empty traps, you’ve probably realised it’s time to expand your trapping toolkit. Wildlife biologist Cam Speedy has over four … Continue reading Smile for the camera: 5 tips for trail cameras

The Trap Audit Manual provides cunning strategies and expert tips to fine-tune your trapping networks, while the Trap Build Manual equips anyone with the know-how to construct their own traps.  The Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust (PFHCCT) actively assists communities in their region to protect native species from invasive predators. PFHCCT has developed two … Continue reading Empowering communities: Unleash your community’s trapping prowess with these manuals

If you’re looking for a new feathery friend to obsess over, then look no further than the tīeke (saddleback). There’s more to them than striking black feathers, a chestnut saddle and ruby-red wattles. Here are five reasons this bird deserves a spot in your heart, in no particular order. 1. They are the ultimate underdogs … Continue reading 5 reasons the tīeke should be your favourite bird

Do you find puppets a bit weird? Are you mysterious? Love your family above all else? You might have more in common with takahē than you think. Survivors against the odds, there’s a lot we can learn from these New Zealand icons. April is takahē awareness month, we’ve compiled five life lessons from takahē: Always … Continue reading 5 life lessons from our takahē

The key to keeping track of your contribution to predator free 2050 is likely already in your pocket. You might even be using it to read this story. Logging when a trap goes snap may seem like a tiny drop in the ocean. But when combined with others in the community, it can create a … Continue reading Why does logging your trap results matter?

It’s Easter, and supermarkets are jam-packed with chocolate eggs. The association of these symbols of new life with Easter is imported from the northern hemisphere – most of our native species have already finished their egg-laying business as winter approaches. As you crack into yet another chocolate egg this long weekend, spare a thought for … Continue reading Quiz: Guess the egg…

The cicada chorus can signal the beginning of a long hot summer. With various native species, we are lucky to hear their calls in almost every corner of the country. From bizarre fungal enemies to world record titles, here are some of the most exciting facts about Aotearoa New Zealand’s cicadas. They’ll be sure to … Continue reading Hot bug summer: 5 cool facts about New Zealand’s cicadas

As birds lose their old feathers to make way for new healthy ones, they are stressed, vulnerable and grumpy. What can you do about it? Plenty.  Imagine having to change your clothes in public, at the park, the bush or the beach. Then imagine it taking a few days, even weeks, to entirely change your … Continue reading Naked & Afraid: help birds during moulting season

From possum nightclubs to garden transformations, these were the most popular stories published by Predator Free New Zealand Trust this year. 1. It’s business time: stoat mating mania and what you can do about it “From the moment they open their eyes as babies, female stoats are almost certainly already pregnant.” That’s an opening line … Continue reading Most read posts of 2022

Gift inspiration for buying for yourself or the wildlife lover in your life. Not just nature-themed, many of these present ideas give back to conservation too, which means you’ll surely end up on Santa’s nice list.  Predator Free New Zealand cap Pick up the peak of fashion with our newly released cap to keep the … Continue reading Seasons tweetings: give a nature-friendly gift this year

Tamper-proof bait stations are easy to use and are a great addition to your backyard trapping toolkit. They’ll help you keep introduced predators under control and limit the amount of toxin that gets out into the environment. If you’re keen to set one up but don’t know where to start, or want to make your … Continue reading Quick ways to improve your bait stations

Birds tend to hog the spotlight here in Aotearoa New Zealand but did you know we also have a host of incredible insects, spiders and other invertebrates? To celebrate this colourful cast of critters, The Entomological Society of New Zealand has launched Bug of the Year. Starting on 14 November and running for 3 months, … Continue reading Bug of the Year is finally here!

This annual wall planner is full of useful information to help you tailor your predator control to seasonal changes in the environment and maximise your effectiveness. Information includes what predators might be up to in your landscape at different times of the year including what trees are attractive to possums, when birds are breeding and … Continue reading A new monthly reminder: the predator control calendar you can’t do without

Why do some traps not get much traffic while it’s rush hour at others? We put the question to predator control specialist Cam Speedy to learn why trap placement is so important. It turns out introduced predators prefer a nice trail walk to a rugged bush bash just like we do. Because we rarely see … Continue reading Highways, not byways: increase traffic to your traps

This Halloween, spare a little love for symbols of the spooky season: spiders.  Supposedly scary but mostly misunderstood, these eight-legged creatures are vital to nature. There are more than 2000 species of pūngāwerewere (spider) in Aotearoa New Zealand, and most of them are endemic (i.e. as unique as the kiwi and kākāpō). Look beyond their … Continue reading Not creepy, just crawly: spiders are cooler than you think

Predator control specialist Cam Speedy knows a thing or two about trapping after 40 years in the business. And like Cam, the DOC 200 has stood the test of time. Over the last couple of decades, DOC 200s have been put to the test up and down the country in harsh, rugged conditions. When it … Continue reading Get the most out of your DOC 200 trap

To get the most out of your Victor double-set, it’s all about sales and marketing. Based on the success that double-set DOC 200s have, the Victor double-set trap is specially designed to house two Victor professional rat traps. Tunnels like these are a critical part of the trapping toolkit – keeping traps away from native … Continue reading Double trouble: Victor double-set trap

In Aotearoa New Zealand Māori are ‘tangata whenua’ – people of the land. This reflects the importance of te taiao (the environment) to Māori identity, culture, and tikanga.  Te reo Māori is shaped by the unique environment and wildlife. There is a depth of meaning to te reo Māori words. Often a one or two-word … Continue reading Why kākāpō are called kākāpō and other wildlife names

Want to do your part to protect our native species but can’t find the time? We’ve got some good news, busy people – joining the predator free movement doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Here are seven easy ways to support the predator free movement in 2022: 1. Make your garden attractive to … Continue reading Time poor? Seven easy ways to join the predator free movement

A possum nightclub might sound like a conservation nightmare, but it’s a great way to give your birdlife a helping hand. Possums breed in March and April and again in September and October. During this time, they’re really promiscuous and are out socialising and moving around a lot. If you have a low number of … Continue reading Give your birdlife a boost and create a possum nightclub

With the affectionate nickname of custard-head, it should be easy to recognise the mōhua (yellowhead). Their bright yellow plumage donning their heads should be a giveaway, right? Wrong. Did you know mōhua have an avian impersonator? Here we take a look at these fascinating birds, their interesting quirks, and the biggest challenges to their survival. … Continue reading Where have all the custard-heads gone? 5 facts on our rare mōhua

Dubbed ‘the clever clowns of the Alps’, kea are much loved for their cheeky spirit and keen intelligence. So it can be shocking to learn that these fun-loving birds are in serious trouble, with populations in decline. So how did we get to this point? And what can be done to save the kea? A … Continue reading Brainy, beautiful and beloved: so why are our kea disappearing?

Steep streams, turbulent rapids and huge boulders are terrains too rough for most ducks – but perfect for a whio (blue duck). It’s Whio Awareness Month! So, let’s have a look at these special ducks that adorn our $10 note with our five top facts on whio. 1. If you find whio, you will find … Continue reading Getting to know our plucky duck: 5 facts about whio

If you still view rats as merely a packet-gnawing, pooping pantry menace, it’s time to take a second look. Rats aren’t simply a nuisance in Aotearoa New Zealand – they’re a rampant threat of extinction proportions.  The introduction and later spread of rats throughout New Zealand has had a devastating impact on our native species. … Continue reading Oh, rats! 5 rodent facts that will shock you

Cupid’s bow and arrow have well and truly hit their mark this kākāpō breeding season. We’ve seen mammoth mating sessions, super-sized clutches, and reclusive bachelors getting back in the game.  This Valentine’s day, we take a look at one of the most successful kākāpō breeding seasons to date – and what it means for this … Continue reading Love is in the air: bumper breeding season for kākāpō

Conservation and climate change have a lot in common. They are big challenges that require big solutions. The good news? Protecting the environment helps our native species – and can help address climate change too.  1. A predator-free forest absorbs more carbon dioxide Many of us know that forests are climate change warriors, thanks to … Continue reading The missing link: 5 crucial ways conservation and climate change are connected

Escape into nature these summer holidays by visiting some of our amazing New Zealand ecosanctuaries. Some incredible New Zealand ecosanctuaries are worth exploring while you’re out and about in your backyard this summer. From lush ancient forests in the far north to rugged and windswept coastal ecosystems in the far south, there is something just … Continue reading 8 New Zealand ecosanctuaries you can’t miss this summer

A family of titipounamu (rifleman) have made history recently. For the first time in over 100 years, a pair have raised their 5 chicks in Wellington city outside of Zealandia’s predator-proof fence.  Titipounamu aren’t as well known as our kiwi or kererū, so what is so special about them? Here are 5 facts you should … Continue reading 5 facts you should know about titipounamu

The holiday season is fast approaching and we have some fantastic gift ideas that our native species will enjoy too!  Essential gifts for the backyard Buy a bird feeder Attract native birds to your garden with this New Zealand designed bird feeder kit.   Nectar-eating birds such as tūī, bellbird, silvereye, kākā and hihi can drink … Continue reading Our 2021 holiday feel-good gift guide

Get your family excited about helping our native species with these easy, practical activities. Whether you’re having a quiet rainy day or you’re looking for an outdoor project to spruce up your garden, we have 5 fun activities that will help the birds, bugs and lizards in your backyard.  We hope you find something you want … Continue reading 5 fun conservation activities for the family

We may be a nation of bird nerds but our native geckos are noteworthy too! There are at least 44 species of native geckos, and more continue to be discovered. From mountain ranges to a messy backyard, geckos inhabit a variety of New Zealand habitats.  All of our native lizards, both geckos and skinks, are … Continue reading 5 NZ geckos found nowhere else in the world

New Zealanders join trapping groups for a number of reasons. They may want to protect our native species, leave our country in a better state for future generations or they may feel a strong sense of personal responsibility. Beyond the selfless motivations, joining a trapping group can be of great personal benefit. There are hundreds … Continue reading 5 reasons why it’s time to join your local trapping group

It’s warming up. Our days are getting longer. Many of us are keen to get out and enjoy the outdoors, even if it’s in our own backyards. A lot of our native birds are busy at this time building nests, incubating eggs and getting extra food for hungry chicks. Introduced predators like possums and rats … Continue reading Our top tips for Springtime

In the 1830s rabbits were brought to New Zealand, and within a few decades, their population had ballooned. By 1870 they were considered an agricultural pest and farmers were desperate for a way to control their numbers. Many saw the solution to introduce ferrets, the natural predators of rabbits in England, even though some naturalists … Continue reading 5 Surprising Ferret Facts

We’ve pulled together some tips to make your trap more effective. 1. Know your rat To trap rats successfully you need to know more about them, specifically their behaviours and what motivates them. Here are some interesting facts you should know about them: Rats thrive around humans Humans provide lots of food sources for rats … Continue reading Troubleshooting tips: What to do when your rat trap isn’t catching any rats

New Zealand’s most commonly encountered reptile is the skink. You may have even spotted one in your garden. It is estimated we have around 60 native species of skinks that are widely distributed across the country and some have only been discovered in the last decade. None of our native lizards (both geckos and skinks) … Continue reading 5 NZ skinks found nowhere else in the world

Love the idea of attracting native wildlife into your backyard? Here are 5 ways to make your garden a safe haven.  1. Trap rats Attracting native species to your backyard is great but make sure it’s a safe place for the birds, bugs and lizards that visit. Rats prey upon native birds, chicks and eggs, … Continue reading 5 ways to make your garden a safe haven for native species

It hasn’t got the huge international fanbase of the kākāpō, the show-stopper song of a tūī, bellbird or kōkako or the national icon status of kiwi. Ngutuparore – the wrybill – is a modest little river plover that no-one takes much notice of. But the wrybill’s got something that’s not found in any other bird … Continue reading Little bird has bend in beak

Have you ever wondered what kind of wildlife hang out in your garden? There are sure to be birds, but are there weta in your woodpile? Do geckos lurk in your trees and bushes? Are skinks secretly sunbathing on big warm stones or in the longer grass? Skinks and geckos can be secretive. They scuttle … Continue reading Going on a Backyard Safari

The mohua, or yellowhead, is a small bird with a bright yellow head and breast. Early settlers called it the ‘bush canary’ because of its colour and beautiful song. The mohua’s story is a familiar one, of population decline since the 1800s. In the 1800s, the mohua was one of the most common birds in … Continue reading Mohua facts