Pest-free Hibiscus Coast and Warkworth

Pest Free Hibiscus Coast

Pest Free Warkworth

Forest and Bird’s Pest Free Hibiscus Coast aims to create a safe haven for native wildlife.

From Shakespear Park all along the peninsula and through to Orewa and Millwater, by working with the community to remove rats, stoats, and possums that are damaging our environment.

Jenny Hanwell | MSc Ecology Pest free hibiscus coast project manager

FOREST & BIRD Mobile: 020 41205512 Facebook @hbcforestandbird | facebook. com/groups/pestfreehbc www.forestandbird.org.nz/projects/ pest-free-hibiscus-coast

Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. You can join Forest & Bird online at www.forestandbird.org.nz

‘Mai I nga mahi iti ka puta he hua nui’ (From small actions come big results)

Did you know that an estimated 68,000 New Zealand native birds are killed daily by introduced predators? We want this to stop now. In late 2019, under the umbrella of Warkworth Area Forest & Bird, Pest Free Warkworth (PFWW) was established to address this serious issue. Our aim is to make urban Warkworth pest free by 2025 through the support of townsfolk by laying and managing a rat trap in their back yard. Following advice, we suggest having a minimum of one wooden tunnel with enclosed rat trap baited and set in every fifth backyard. PFWW provides the traps along with training in the use of the traps plus ongoing support and advice whenever required. This alone will make a difference however, it is recognised that the trapping of urban parks and reserves is also necessary to achieve our aim of being totally pest free. Three trap lines in local parks have now been laid and are being managed by volunteers and further trap lines are presently being scoped and planned. These lines include wooden tunnels with enclosed rat trap, DOC200 traps for mustelids and rats and possum traps. Possum traps were installed on one of the trap lines just prior to this latest lockdown, with the assistance and advice from Mahurangi College students, and are already achieving results. PFWW relies upon any captures being reported to us as we use this to signal our successes, highlight any hotspots plus assists us to secure funding to support our project.

We welcome and encourage you to join us in our project. Phone us on 021 506 922 or send us an email at: info@pestfreewarkworth.org.nz.