Welcome back Pest control is surely not the most glamorous aspect of conservation however it is certainly one of the most important To remove introduced predators from any area in New Zealand there will quickly be an increase in the numbers of native creatures that were just scraping out a perilous existence

In New Zealand it is not a question of should I or shouldnt I But more rightly how much control can I do With 90 of our plants and animals found nowhere else on earth the highest rate of endangered species approx 2700 and over 40 of our bird species already extinct we owe it to ourselves our children and our country to protect it now before is becomes any worse

So pest control is undertaken by the government through the Department of Conservation National agencies such as TBFree NZ regional councils and a variety of local bodys such as conservation groups and landowners and every little bit helps

There are two main methods used to control unwanted pests these are the use of poisons and of course trapping For the landowner the best control method will vary depending on the targeted species and terrain but here at Rotorua Canopy Tours we have decided to run our pest control program using only traps to target Mice Rats Stoats Ferrets Possums Cat and Hedgehogs As we operate in a pristine unspoilt remnant of New Zealands great and ancient forests we have elected not to use toxins as the use of ecofriendly trapping fits our philosophy perfectly

Rats

Probably the most destructive species introduced into New Zealand Rats cause huge devastation as NZ plants and creatures have no defence against their large numbers destructive feeding habits and their predation on our species

Above is pictured one of our home made rat traps proudly sponsored by Speedy Signs EmbroidMe Rotorua This is made from some corflute some mesh and some plywood By creating a zig zig entry with the mesh we can eliminate catching forest birds and target the mammals on the ground

Inside the housing there are two Victor Professional rat traps which are baited with peanut butter this is an excellent bait as it is oily and favoured by them Having a unit like this means two traps can be set anywhere and be safe for other animals children and pets

In a bush forest paddock setting these units 50mtrs apart will give effective results while around buildings and large populations of rats higher numbers of traps will be required Set traps around the edges of buildings along fence lines or along a wall as they use the edges of structures to move around

Rats are most active at night but move about whenever they please they are always looking for a free meal so having traps always set is the best way to ensure effective control

Check in next time for information on what possum traps we use and why as well as a few tips to catch more