By Colin Hewens

We were allowed to start trapping again at the end of April and have had three weeks emptying traps and re-baiting since then. We had a large number of kills compared to the norm, which is under 25 possums, 50 rats, 0 stoats and 20 mice.

The latest results show the totals since lockdown are: possums 108, rats 346, stoats six and mice 65, so while we have been under lockdown, the pests have had a field day.

However, the volunteers have been very busy getting into the thing they love doing, a healthy walk in Whakamārama’s beautiful bush, listening to the birds’ songs and killing those introduced species who are trying to decimate our native wildlife. If you would like to join them, contact me, Colin, on 552 6771.