What am I? I lie on my back and play dead with my legs in the air and jaws wide open to fool predators – and if that doesn’t work, I scratch, bite and vomit on them. I’m tough – so tough that when things get icy in my mountain home, my whole body can freeze down to -10°C for up to 17 days. When … [Read more...] about Marvellous, mysterious, amazing – what is this strange creature?
Success stories
Rats on the move – how far do they disperse?
How far might young rats disperse if they find themselves in a place with few other rat competitors? It’s an important question, with implications for deciding what surveillance is needed to detect invasions in predator-free islands, sanctuaries and ultimately, large predator-free mainland … [Read more...] about Rats on the move – how far do they disperse?
Yealands Estate adds trapping to their eco-friendly initiatives
Tara Smith is Sustainability Manager for Yealands Estate. The role is a new one – she started in May 2019 – but sustainability has been part of the Yealands vision since the vineyard’s beginnings in 2008. Recently the Yealands team have added predator trapping to their long list of eco-friendly … [Read more...] about Yealands Estate adds trapping to their eco-friendly initiatives
Checking up on the other yellow-eyed penguins
Yellow-eyed penguins (YEPs) are endemic and endangered and the Otago population is declining with poor breeding seasons and high adult mortality. But YEPs live in the sub-Antarctic too. Somewhere between 37% and 49% of the total YEP breeding population are thought to breed in the Auckland Islands … [Read more...] about Checking up on the other yellow-eyed penguins
Oystercatcher on Mokau Estuary reaches venerable old age
How old can an old bird get? It depends on the species of course and the risks of predation and starvation and all the other hazards of a life lived wild. But assuming a bird lives to its ‘full term’ potential, what is ‘old’ in bird lifespans? K-7446 was identified and photographed in 2019 by … [Read more...] about Oystercatcher on Mokau Estuary reaches venerable old age
‘Didymo Dave’ makes trout lures from stoat tails
Got a freshly dead stoat in your trap? Want to feed your family a tasty meal. No – we’re not offering up stoat recipes here. But the black tip of a stoat’s tail makes a great fishing lure for catching trout and if you’re keen to give a stoat tail fly a go, Taupo’s ‘Didymo Dave’ Cade is just the man … [Read more...] about ‘Didymo Dave’ makes trout lures from stoat tails
What’s happening up in the hood?
Sanctuary fences keep predators out – but they’ve also become a popular ‘highway’ for ship rats travelling around the sanctuary exterior. Rats have discovered that the rolled steel hood (designed to stop mammals climbing over the fence), also makes a great way to get around, safely out of reach of … [Read more...] about What’s happening up in the hood?
Kiwi company exports NZ trapping expertise
Traps developed in New Zealand aren’t just saving our wildlife, they’re helping endangered wildlife all around the world. We lead the way in producing humane, effective traps – and the rest of the world is taking notice, with new export markets opening up for our trap manufacturers. CMI Ltd, … [Read more...] about Kiwi company exports NZ trapping expertise
Liverpool researchers study rat audio lures
Cautious rats – bait shy and trap shy – are a problem worldwide and researchers at the University of Liverpool, UK have been looking at other ways to attract rats into bait or trap boxes. So far the research has only been carried out on lab rats and still needs to be tested in the field. But the … [Read more...] about Liverpool researchers study rat audio lures
Winton company takes on Motu Ngahere restoration project
On the Southland Plains near Winton, Motu Ngahere (‘Island of Bush’) is one of the very few original native bush remnants left in the area – literally an ‘island’ in the rural landscape. The name was chosen after seeking consultation with local iwi. Oliver Crawshaw - biodiversity ranger for AB … [Read more...] about Winton company takes on Motu Ngahere restoration project