Joint attack on predators

AN environmental group and the Department of Conservation will work more closely in their effort to rid the Makarora area of introduced predators.

The Makarora predator control operation plan has been developed by Doc, in consultation with Forest and Bird Central Otago Lakes.

Trap lines in the area near Makarora township were installed by Forest & Bird in the 1990s and the plan would supplement the trapping network already in place.

Doc Central Otago district operations manager Mike Tubbs said the plan meant everyone involved in predator control on conservation land would have the same understanding of where any trapping effort should be placed.

The plan was ambitious and aimed to increase the populations of blue duck, rock wren, longtailed bat and to improve the health of the forest.

‘‘We are fortunate to have such passionate and committed people who share the same goal and want to do their bit in protecting our native and threatened species,’’ Mr Tubbs said.

The trapping would be done in tandem with Doc’s Battle for our Birds programme, which uses 1080 poison, in the region.

Last year Forest and Bird was given a $23,395 grant from the Otago Regional Council’s environmental enhancement fund to purchase more traps and equipment for its Project Makarora pest control programme.

Project Makarora manager Bruce Jefferies said the plan would formalise the relationship between the two groups.

It would also make it easier for them to share information, which would help Doc assess whether its predator control operations had been a success, he said.

‘‘What we do is complementary to Doc’s control operations. We are standing behind them and moving with them.’’

While the group was doing well, Mr Jefferies said they could alway use more volunteers.

‘‘I would love it to be busier but we just don’t have enough volunteers and resources for all the work we want to do.’’