Rat footprints found on Motuihe island
Date: 23 April 2008
Footprints, most likely those of a ship rat, have been found on 'pest-free' Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf.
The footprints were found in tracking tunnels earlier this week, and have sparked a major Department of Conservation (DOC) rat hunt.
Motuihe was declared free of animal pests in January 2005 after DOC eradicated the last remaining pests, rabbits and feral cats. The island's pest free status has paved the way for the reintroduction of threatened native species such as the saddleback, meaning the presence of a rat is a major concern.
DOC Ranger Ditch Keeling setting up
some of the many rat traps needed on
the island
DOC Biodiversity Manager, Phil Brown, said it was highly likely the rat had been inadvertently brought to the island on a visitor's boat or kayak, or in their gear.
"There's a good chance this animal has arrived as a stowaway, and it's another reminder for people to check their boats and gear before leaving the mainland. Our pest free islands in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park are extremely precious, and it's up to all of us to help keep them that way."
"The presence of a rat on the island is a major risk to some of our most threatened species that live there, such as the NZ dotterel, the saddleback and the variable oystercatcher."
A rat could also delay the progress of a huge volunteer restoration effort on the island, led by the Motuihe Trust.
DOC will be laying out hundreds of traps on the island, using a variety of baits, and are also using a specially trained rodent detection dog to try and locate the rat.
ENDS
- Motuihe is a 179-hectare recreation reserve that is a popular destination for day visits and camping holidays.
- Motuihe has had a varied history, which includes being extensively settled by Maori, farmed by Europeans for over a century, the site of Auckland's quarantine station for 50 years, and then a prisoner of war camp and a naval training base.
- The Motuihe Trust has initiated a restoration project in partnership with DOC, with the aim of reforesting parts of the island, returning native birds, lizards and insects, conserving historic features and developing tracks and visitor facilities.
- Motuihe is one of a number of pest free conservation islands in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Others include Tiritiri Matangi, Motuora, Rakino, Browns Island and Hauturu/Little Barrier.
- The Department of Conservation is also planning to eradicate all remaining animal pests (feral cats, rabbits, stoats, hedgehogs, Norway rats, ship rats and mice) from neighbouring Rangitoto and Motutapu. This would create the largest pest free habitat (over 3800ha) in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.