A small group of local volunteers from Landcare Okareka and the dab chick monitoring group who are interested in protecting wetland birds, especially dab chicks, have been involved with a trapping project under Department of Conservation approval since mid September. The current area being trapped is the esplanade strip around Acacia bay area at Lake Okareka. The locations of all of the trap locations have been GPS'd. Traps are being checked at regular intervals, and the catches recorded. To date, we have caught 20 rats and five hedgehogs. DOC believes that at Lake Tarawera there does seem to be a correlation between the increase in dab chick numbers and the ongoing rodent control there.
The traps being used are DOC 250 humane kill traps, which are secured into wooden boxes and these comply will all DOC protocols. Landcare Okareka holds the DOC permit, on behalf of this group. The traps were provided to the group by DOC, having been surplus to their requirements from Mokoia Island.
The traps are designed to catch rats and mustelids (stoats, ferrets or weasles), which predate on local fauna – wetland birds, lizards, insects and frogs.
The group hopes to expand the operation to other riparian areas around Lake Okareka. More traps and boxes will be donated to the group or funded by Lake Okareka Community Assn through proceeds from the DOC camp on Millar Road.
The next count of dab chicks will take place in February and will coincide with a five yearly survey of all lakes by DOC and the Ornithological Society.
If you are interested to help with this trapping project please contact:
Mike Vincent 3628 376 or Mike Goodwin 3628 865.
The traps being used are DOC 250 humane kill traps, which are secured into wooden boxes and these comply will all DOC protocols. Landcare Okareka holds the DOC permit, on behalf of this group. The traps were provided to the group by DOC, having been surplus to their requirements from Mokoia Island.
The traps are designed to catch rats and mustelids (stoats, ferrets or weasles), which predate on local fauna – wetland birds, lizards, insects and frogs.
The group hopes to expand the operation to other riparian areas around Lake Okareka. More traps and boxes will be donated to the group or funded by Lake Okareka Community Assn through proceeds from the DOC camp on Millar Road.
The next count of dab chicks will take place in February and will coincide with a five yearly survey of all lakes by DOC and the Ornithological Society.
If you are interested to help with this trapping project please contact:
Mike Vincent 3628 376 or Mike Goodwin 3628 865.
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