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PEST CONTROL
Since 2004 The Trust has had an intensive trapping network
in place to remove pest species and provide a safer habitat
for our native wildlife. In just a few years there has been
considerable floral change at Rotokare – regeneration
has been huge now that native seed has a chance to germinate
and grow.
Over six hundred traps are checked monthly by a dedicated
group of volunteers. DOC200 type traps target stoats and
weasels. These are in the large wooden boxes that you may
see whilst walking along the track. Large Victor rat traps
target rats (mainly ship rats) and are placed in the smaller
white tunnels.
Look out for changes to our usual trapping programme from
June 2007 as the predator-proof fence nears completion and
we prepare for our main pest eradication operation in 2008.
stuck quad bike laying out trap lines (photo: Cees Bevers)
s
Clematis clematis ? - flora benefiting from the removal of possums and rodents (photo: Barry Hartley).
Below is our most recent pest catch summary.
You will require Acrobat Reader
to view reports.
The Mainland Island Sanctuary Concept . . . . .
Intensive conservation efforts have historically been focused on off-shore islands such as Kapiti Island or Raoul Island where it is possible to protect an area from pest reinvasion. More recently a new and exciting concept has been created – Mainland Islands. Mainland Islands are areas under conservation management and are aimed at restoring and protecting habitat on the mainland by carrying out intensive pest control. They are termed ‘islands’ because they are separated by physical or geographical features, or simply by a defined management area. In the case of Rotokare that isolation is by the surrounding farmland.
Predator-Proof Fences . . . . .
The challenge with mainland over island conservation is that the mainland is continually open to reinvasion from pest species. Therefore control effort must be sustained over the long term. Rotokare, like a few other national projects, have largely overcome this challenge by using a new technology – predator-proof fencing. These fences are hugely effective at preventing pests from entering an area. The fence height (nearly 2 metres) with a hood on top stops jumping animals such as cats and goats; a small mesh size (25mm x 6mm) stops smaller ground animals such as stoats and even baby mice; a skirt beneath the ground stops burrowing animals such as rabbits (see Xcluder Pest Proof Fencing Company www.xcluder.co.nz for details).
Introduced pests have had huge detrimental effects on our unique New Zealand wildlife and habitats. Many of our rare endemic species are now confined to offshore islands or inaccessible areas, and so many animals have unfortunately lost the battle and are now extinct. The Rotokare Trust has created the opportunity to restore a small slice of Taranaki paradise to its former glory. With a newly completed predator-proof fence the Trust now has a much greater chance of completely eradicating all mammalian pest species from within the reserve, without the long term use of toxins. Opportunity for reintroducing sensitive endangered species becomes viable, and providing a safe haven for our native flora and fauna is also increased. Additionally this project will allow the public to enter a pest-free world and thriving native ecosystem at a very accessible site.
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