The Spitfire: outsmarting possums with their own habits
The new device delivers a deadly dose of toxin straight onto a predator’s fur as it enjoys a free meal. Later, the unsuspecting animal ingests…
Saving nature, stress relief, sausie sizzle: what keeps volunteers committed?
Conservation thrives on volunteers; in fact, many efforts in Aotearoa simply couldn’t survive without them. So what, exactly, is the magic recipe that keeps volunteers…
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. There’s…
Keep going: five more things to do if your trap isn’t catching rats
Have you tried some of our troubleshooting tips but still struggle to catch predators? It doesn’t mean there aren’t any left out there. Here are…
Cat meets conservation: the unlikely story of a wildlife rescuer and her new pet
Biologist and wildlife rehabber Sabrina Luecht never expected she would one day become a proud cat owner. Her work, after all, revolves around saving native…
Laundry baskets and dummy eggs: caring for albatross
Toroa (northern royal albatross) soar the skies over the sea, sleep on the waves and don’t return to land for years. When it’s time to…
World first: revival of the rat-specific toxin
A new breakthrough in predator control is on the horizon — a rat-specific toxin that leaves birds, pets, and livestock unharmed. Scientists worldwide have been…
Short-sighted surplus hunters: five fast facts about ferrets
With their black eye mask, ferrets might remind you of the Hamburglar. But instead of targeting hamburgers, they are adept hunters with a wide range…
Dogs, AI, heat-detecting drones: chasing the last possums on the Otago Peninsula
Not many people can say they routinely carry around a jar of possum poo, but Jonah Kitto-Verhoef does. It’s not just any jar — it’s…
Booming swamp ninjas: five facts about the elusive Australasian bittern
You might not know of matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) – with fewer than 1,000 living in New Zealand, they’re rarer than whio or hoiho. This secretive…
It’s business time: stoat mating mania and what you can do about it
Spring has sprung and the stoat mating frenzy has begun. From the moment they open their eyes as babies, female stoats are almost certainly already…
Guardians of the Galaxiidae: protecting kōkopu eggs from rats
When it comes to introduced predators, we hear a lot about their impact on birds, bats and lizards. But New Zealand’s native fish are also…
From two-year gecko pregnancies to colour-changing birds: meet five remarkable Rakiura residents
With golden beaches and emerald forests, Rakiura (Stewart Island) has been called “a piece of the primeval world” and is home to many wildlife wonders.…
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. The Predator Free…
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. Researchers say diving deep…
