Curious Minds project lets kids keep tabs on their tabbies
The secret lives of Taranaki’s pet cats are currently being revealed – thanks to project funding from Curious Minds which has enabled the purchase of…
Secret life of urban rats revealed
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and black rats (also known as ship rats), (Rattus rattus), are among the most prolific and widespread urban pest species in…
Predator proof nestboxes more than a pipe dream
Kathryn Marshall, helped by a team of Waimea Menz Shed volunteers, with some expert advice from ornithologist Peter Gaze, has designed and tested predator proof…
Capturing the cryptic – finding better ways to detect stoats
When stoats were recently captured on video raiding the spring nests of rock wren, yet tracking tunnels failed to detect their presence, scientists became concerned…
Wild beauty of Matukituki Valley continues to inspire
The beautiful, remote Matukituki Valley is located between Mt Aspiring National Park and Lake Wanaka. It’s mossy beech forests, pristine glaciers, alpine plants and birdlife…
Book: The Dotterels’ Last Stand
The Dotterels’ Last Stand by Sue Newman, beautifully illustrated by Paul A. Willis is a realistic and ‘almost true’ story of the challenges dotterels face…
Not just mouse-munchers – the diet of weasels revealed
Stoats tend to vie with rats for the position of Conservation Public Enemy No. 1 – but what do we know about the stoat’s smaller…
Antipodes Island – mouse free and back on course
Over a year has gone by. The mice are gone (although final proof won’t come until a revisit in 2018). On Antipodes Island, 760km southeast…
What next for rats and mice?
Rats and mice aren’t just our problem. They’re some of the most widespread and damaging invasive alien species on islands globally. A team of scientists…
Kiwibank Predator Free Goes Bananas in Patumahoe
A banana impersonated a rat and got mashed at a recent school assembly at Patumahoe – and the pupils along with many of their parents…
Predators vs Parakeets
Kakariki, our native parakeets mostly nest in holes in trees, where the female incubates the eggs for around 3-4 weeks. That makes female kakariki, as…
Young kaitiaki learn to care for Omataroa kiwi
Ian Tarei is Kiwi Project Manager for the Omataroa-Rangitaiki No 2 [Maori land] Trust and has been involved with the project since its beginning 10…
Alpine stoats caught on camera raiding rock wren nests
Stoats are emerging as a key threat to our alpine wildlife as scientists learn more about predator/prey relationships in this less-studied habitat. Remote alpine zones…
BRaid offers free trapping workshop – open to all
It’s been a while since we caught up with BRaid – Braided River aid – and lots has been happening in the interim. First up,…
Falcons learn to live an ‘exotic’ life
Before humans arrived, 78% of Aotearoa was covered in native podocarp forest. In the 700 years since we got here, 60% of that forest has…
