Big boost in battle against peninsula pests

Takatu trappers, from left, Stewart Halliwell, community pest control coordinator Ngaire Wallen, Richard Robson, Bill Switzer and Jeannette Switzer install a possum trap on Whitmore Road.

Whangaripo Valley Eggs has donated more than 1000 eggs for trap baits.

Dozens more traps have been laid and hundreds of extra pests killed on the Tawharanui Peninsula following the appointment of area’s first community pest control coordinator.

In the year since Ngaire Wallen was taken on by Takatu LandCare, she has brought in a comprehensive strategy of engaging the local community in the fight against predators. Major achievements include setting up five new trapline networks, drawing up extensive trapping plans for local residents, sourcing more than 150 new traps and working with Whangaripo Valley Eggs to donate more than 1000 reject eggs as trap baits.

There are now almost 500 rat, Timms and DOC 200 traps laid around Omaha, Waikauri Bay, Christian Bay, Takatu Ridge, the Omaha wastewater treatment plant, and Buckleton, Baddeleys and Campbells Beaches. All of them are being checked and maintained by local landowners and volunteers. Since January, well over 600 rats, mice, possums, weasels and stoats have been caught and killed across the region.

Ngaire is one of 34 coordinators across Auckland funded from Council’s Natural Environment Targeted Rate, which has also supplied a significant number of new pest traps.

She says it’s been great to see more people working together to take responsibility for pest control on their own properties or in their local environment.

“The most rewarding aspect is seeing the passion that people have for the environment that we share, and their commitment to looking after it as well as we can,” Ngaire says. “It’s conservation in action, with great results.”

As well as increased pest trapping, Ngaire has set up a network of volunteers to monitor bird numbers on the peninsula and surrounds.

“It’s ‘citizen science’ to measure any changes in birdlife in the area over time. We have multiple habitats and locations, and although there have only been two monitoring periods to date, there have been 28 endemic or native species and 23 introduced species seen or heard.”

Future activity will include monitoring pest species, boosting pest control around Whitmore Road and then tackling roadside weed control. Volunteers are always welcome.

Info: takatulandcare.com or email Ngaire on pestcontrol@takatulandcare.com