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Cartoon drawing of milk bottles, bait stations, bungee cords, timber, tape, rope and bamboo.

Number 8 wire: 5 low-tech predator control innovations

Move over MacGyver. Homegrown Kiwi innovation is doing so much for predator control, and it’s not just the big players with fancy products.  For every…

The van Heugten family standing in native bush

Keeping up with the van Heugtens: Auckland’s nature hero family

The van Heugten family isn’t just another household; they’re a powerhouse for nature, spanning generations. Between them, they run a bird rescue centre, trap predators…

A close up of a kōkako

From one pair to many: these volunteers saved this Auckland kōkako population

When volunteers started helping kōkako in the Hūnua Ranges there was just one breeding pair left. But it wasn’t too late – thirty years later,…

Photo of moon phases

Predator trapping by the moon: the influence of maramataka 

Do you plant and harvest your vegetable garden by the moon? Do you fish by the moon? Many people do and recognise the positive influence…

A trap box in the foreground in an alpine valley.

If you’ve ever thought, “what’s the point?” about nature conservation, this study is for you

We have good news for you in the face of climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and introduced predators. Nature conservation really, actually works, and control…

The words Why Apu juxtaposed over forested mountains.

Thriving garden to empty shell, ‘Why Apu?’ 

Silent forests with chewed-out undergrowth and mountainsides slipping away like softened Weetbix: a new documentary series unveils crisis and hope in the heart of the…

Poison claws and slime assault: 7 nocturnal creatures to delight in this forested estate

Poison claws and slime assault: 7 nocturnal creatures to delight in this forested estate

A velvety creature rears its head, shoots sticky glue, and then dissolves its prey into a delicious soup. Nearby, a different many-legged critter rustles through…

Rat in some leaf litter

Troubleshooting tips: what to do when your rat trap isn’t catching any rats

We’ve pulled together some tips to make your trap more effective. The short version: know your rats, switch lures, move traps or get the neighbours…

A cat on a leash outside.

Inside scoop: Q&A with an indoor cat owner

Meet Tess and her beloved cats, Sylvia (domestic short hair) and Sooty (domestic long hair), both adopted from a cat rescue in Wellington in 2018.…

Getting your hands dirty with a practical guide to trapping

Getting your hands dirty with a practical guide to trapping

Order (or download) a copy of this comprehensive 80-page booklet for all the best practice advice you need for effective predator control in your community.…

Powelliphanta - a giant snail - on the forest floor

Beyond birds: 5 things that benefit from predator control

Kākāpō, kiwi, kokakō, kea and now 2023 Bird of the Year winner pūteketeke steal the show at home and globally with their feathery charms. Predator…

Two women smile holding trapping tunnels.

Funding nature: a boost for backyard trapping

As part of our Predator Free Communities Programme, we have funded another 17 groups to amp up their efforts in looking after our wildlife. From Northland…

A german wasp.

Buzz off: 7 facts about wasps

When you think of “introduced predators”, what comes to mind? Probably feral cats, rats and stoats. Wasps are introduced predators too – and our mild…

View of pasture with hills in the distance.

Win-win: farming can help nature thrive and vice versa

Here’s how farmers can dig into practices that make economic sense but also contribute to biodiversity. Many farmers are already tapping into innovative resources, actively…

A velvet worm rearing its head up.

Exploring the ancient and alien-like peripatus, “velvet worm”

Peripatus, or “velvet worms”, are creatures reminiscent of the formidable sandworms from Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel-turned-film, Dune. These ancient and alien-like creatures are enthralling. Here…