Gillian Keegan is passionate about nature and birds – so much so she’s been known to give rat traps as gifts! Last October Gillian and her husband Bernie volunteered to maintain the trap network in New Plymouth’s Rotokare/Barrett Domain, which borders their home. There are two traplines in the domain with a combined 67 traps, which the couple check once a week. It takes about four hours in total, but according to Gillian it’s time well spent. “We thoroughly enjoy it. We’re down there anyway walking the dog, so it’s easy,” she says. “It’s my passion, I enjoy helping nature.” They get huge satisfaction from catching introduced predators, which are mainly rats and mice – with the occasional hedgehog and stoat. The benefits are clear. Their home is now surrounded by kererū, pīwakawaka and tūī and Gillian says other visitors to the domain often comment on the noticeable increase in birdlife. She enjoys answering people’s questions about traps and talking about how important predator control is for our region’s biodiversity. In fact, she reckons her friends are probably sick of hearing about it. “I talk about it a lot,” she laughs. Gillian and Bernie plan to continue looking after the traps as long as they are able and would “absolutely recommend it” to others keen to make a difference to our region’s biodiversity. If you’re interested in checking traps in a New Plymouth park or reserve, contact NPDC Parks Volunteer Officer Laura George on (06) 759 6060 to see where volunteers are needed. Note many smaller spaces only contain a few traps – so would not require a large time commitment. Full training will be given. If you are elsewhere in Taranaki and would like to help, please contact Towards Predator-Free Taranaki’s Chauncy Ardell on 0800 736 222 or pftaranaki@trc.govt.nz.
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} Restore Taranaki Groups on Facebook Follow Towards Predator-Free Taranaki on Facebook - facebook.com/TowardsPredatorFreeTaranaki(external link) What is Trap.NZ? If you’re trapping at home, register with the online database Trap.NZ, via its website or app. Then record all your catches and also your trap checks (even when nothing has been caught). This makes Trap.NZ a source of valuable data tracking the region’s efforts and identifying gaps. Visit Trap.NZ website(external link) Related links Taranaki Schools Report a possum Get a trap Record a catch Get our newsletter
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September 2023
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understand what animals and plant species occupied a section of the bush, with Taranaki Regional Council Education Officer Emily Roberts. This set the scene for the type of work that followed; predator and trapping analysis, bird counts, and the first steps to build a lizard lounge – a man-made haven where lizards can hide and take cover when feeding and resting. “Understanding the birdlife and other important living things already in the area was really important,” Woodleigh School teacher Sharon
years ago. She’s recently included rat traps too. Ms Thompson and other New Plymouth urban residents are the focus of a region-wide biodiversity project, Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki, which is supporting Taranaki’s wildlife, native plants and healthy ecosystems. “If I can do it anyone can” says Tricia. Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki is working to ultimately get rid of introduced predators from the region - on urban and rural land and across Egmont National Park – and prevent re-infestation.
town today (Friday 25 January) after celebrating their wedding in Ireland, where the bride hails from. They’ve been working in the zero possum area, for Taranaki Regional Council, together with Oākura locals, community groups, Taranaki Mounga Project and Taranaki Regional Council, as part of Towards Predator-Free Taranaki. However, the newly-wed couple are calling on Oākura residents to help eradicate possums - reporting any suspected possums in the area to them 24/7 on 0800 736 222 “We can’t do