Lizard News

Rats will play while the trappers are away

- By Margot McCool

While New Zealand has been in lockdown, life has no such restrictio­ns on the pests that inhabit our precious native habitats. The warm weather will have been perfect for rats, stoats and possums to thrive, while pest control volunteers have been cooped up at home, unable to continue their valiant efforts to control the numbers of these destructiv­e pests.

However once Level 2 or below is reached, Friends of The Blade will be out in force to bring these numbers down once again, giving our native birds the opportunit­y to restore birdsong to The Blade, at the top of Whakamāram­a Road, where there is now a beautiful 40-minute loop tack for visitors to enjoy.

More volunteers are needed to help on the 23 trapping lines that have been establishe­d. All baits are non-toxic, and traps are the humane instant-kill variety supplied by DOC, so if you have a couple of hours to spare once a fortnight, give Colin a call on 07 552 6771 and join the friendly group of volunteers.

 ??  ?? Rat in a trap. PHOTO: Supplied.
Rat in a trap. PHOTO: Supplied.
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