My Account
Stoat DNA has alerted rangers at Shakespear Open Sanctuary to the possibility that only one male stoat might remain within the pest proof fence.
A year ago, a pregnant stoat got into the sanctuary and gave birth, resulting in the biggest challenge since the sanctuary opened a decade ago.
Open sanctuaries senior ranger Matt Maitland says the work to rid the sanctuary of stoats was an essential service and continued during lockdown.
A total of eight stoats have been caught to date and genetic analysis of stoat poo found around the park says there were possibly nine in total. There have been no sightings of a stoat on the 45 cameras around the park since August 23. Trained dogs have also found nothing.
Matt says the stoat, believed to be male, could be dead, or have left the park in search of a female.
He says the focus has shifted from active hunting to intensive surveillance.
“The challenge is to make sure that zero means zero,” he says. “Though it’s been a hellish year, we are confident we could be near the end.”
He says there has been an impact on fluttering shearwaters, saddlebacks (tieke), kereru, tui and bellbirds but he believes not on the little spotted kiwi population.
