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CONSERVATION

Pest control programme making a difference

Friday 4 March 2011, 8:45AM

By Bay of Plenty Regional Council

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WHAKATANE

A pest control operation carried out on Ōhope Scenic Reserve, Kohi Point Scenic Reserve and adjoining Ngāti Awa Farm during the two months leading up to Christmas 2010 has proven successful.

A joint control programme was conducted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Ngāti Awa Farm and Whakatane District Council to further cut the number of possums and rats in the reserves.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity Officer David Paine said the pest control operation was now in its third year and was an important step in trying to protect and increase birdlife in the reserve.

“This year’s programme shows that possums were maintained at very low numbers with none caught during the monitor. Rats were controlled to very low levels and were virtually undetectable after control while stoat control is ongoing with only a small but expected rise in numbers trapped this summer,” Mr Paine said.

As a variation to previous control work some rat bait has been left in stations for the summer.

“Our hope is that this bait will prevent the rapid build up of rats we have seen during the last two years and allow a longer period where birds, plants and invertebrates are able to breed in the absence of predators and browsers,” Mr Paine explained.

Whakatane District Council Technical Advisor – Reserves, Pete McLaren said the work was carried out by local contractors Rapeara Black Contracting in Ohope and Ngati Awa Kawenata and in Kohi Point by Wayne Okeefe of Indigenous Landscapes in Opotiki.

“Our thanks go to Whakatane Kiwi Trust volunteer trappers Russell Ingram-Seal, Ian Scown, Peter Mules, Dan English, Mark Townsend, Alister Coulter, The West End Fur Patrol and contractor Jamie Rhodes who help to carry out this important task. All credit must be extended to them given the damage to tracks and streams that have occurred on their trap lines during recent storms.”

“Maintaining a successful programme will mean visitors to this popular area will be able to see and hear more birds and other native animals,” Mr McLaren said.

Work is being carried out to measure the birdlife within Ohope Scenic Reserve and this is beginning to show increases from previous monitoring as a response to pest control. Monitoring work has also begun in order to measure birdlife within Kohi Point and similar results are expected after next year’s count.