Bay Harbour: February 22, 2023

NEWS 13<br />

Predator free push<br />

4 MARCH <strong>2023</strong> LINCOLN<br />

Wednesday <strong>February</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News<br />

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TRAPPING predators –<br />

possums, rats, mice, stoats and<br />

ferrets – and planting natives<br />

are two steps we can all take to<br />

encourage native birdsong back<br />

to our communities.<br />

“Now is the time to set your<br />

traps,” said Predator Free Sumner<br />

<strong>Bay</strong>s member Paul Cragg.<br />

“This is the prime breeding<br />

time as the weather is warm and<br />

there is plenty of food in your<br />

garden and compost heap. This<br />

means we have a lot of ‘naive’<br />

youngsters out there who will be<br />

curious about the traps, unlike<br />

the more mature trap-shy rats.<br />

“If we all become backyard<br />

trappers we can make a difference<br />

to the number of predators.<br />

Besides protecting native birds,<br />

rats and mice will be less likely<br />

to live in your walls and ceilings<br />

in winter, and eat your garden<br />

produce in summer.”<br />

Predator Free Sumner <strong>Bay</strong>s<br />

is one of several community<br />

groups under the auspices of<br />

Predator Free Port Hills. And,<br />

Predator Free Port Hills is part<br />

of the Summit Road Society;<br />

as the name suggests, it takes a<br />

leadership role in eliminating<br />

predators on the Port Hills.<br />

Founded by the late Jeremy<br />

Agar, the focus is backyard<br />

trapping in the urban fringe<br />

surrounding the Port Hills and<br />

Lyttelton harbour. It aims to<br />

HAVE A CHAT: Predator Free Port Hills are at the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market on the second<br />

Saturday of every month.<br />

PHOTO: FACEBOOK<br />

have a trap in one of every five<br />

households.<br />

Predator Free Port Hills co-ordinator<br />

Marie Gray said it is a<br />

simple concept, so it’s easy for<br />

everyone to get involved.<br />

“We are at the Mt Pleasant<br />

markets on the second Saturday<br />

of the month providing advice<br />

and selling traps. We would love<br />

to welcome you to our stall, and<br />

to explain how you can help us<br />

achieve more birdsong in our<br />

community.<br />

“We also have community days<br />

where kids and their parents can<br />

come and make traps for their<br />

own gardens. Sign up online via<br />

www.predatorfreeporthills.org.<br />

nz”<br />

Cragg has been a keen backyard<br />

trapper for many years.<br />

“Close to 10 years ago Redcliffs<br />

resident John Cook held a meeting<br />

in Sumner to discuss trapping<br />

in the Upper Mahoe-nui<br />

and Jollies Bush areas, and it<br />

sparked my interest. Then Gabe<br />

Ross started up Predator Free<br />

Sumner <strong>Bay</strong>s in 2017. And the<br />

rest is history, as they say.”<br />

Said Cragg: “Whilst we don’t<br />

have accurate monitoring data,<br />

we know we are making a<br />

difference . . . So far, over 300<br />

households have signed up, and<br />

well over 1000 rats have been<br />

trapped between Taylors Mistake<br />

and Balmoral Hill.”<br />

He said if we all become<br />

backyard trappers, and plant<br />

native trees and shrubs, we can<br />

help bring about change in our<br />

communities.<br />

Tips for those new to<br />

trapping:<br />

· Set your trap along<br />

the fenceline, in areas<br />

with bush, or beside<br />

the compost<br />

· Set up the trap as a<br />

rat café for a few days<br />

i.e., bait but do not set<br />

the trap. If it is being<br />

cleared then the rats<br />

and mice are happy to<br />

feed there, so it’s time<br />

to set the bait<br />

· Trapped rodents<br />

can be buried in the<br />

garden, or placed in<br />

the red bin<br />

· If you have any<br />

questions, come and<br />

talk to Predator Free<br />

Port Hills at the Mt<br />

Pleasant market<br />

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Contact Cathy Mark Payne Kelly South Distribution Island Distribution Manager Manager<br />

P: P: 021 029 340 983 771<strong>22</strong>93 | E: cathy.payne@mainlanddistribution.co.nz<br />

| E: mark.kelly@mainlanddistribution.co.nz