Date:  28 April 2015

The cash prize will be awarded to an established predator control group or entity that provides details of their location and target species before 22 May 2015.

“Across New Zealand community groups, hapu/iwi and private landowners make a huge contribution to predator control” says Partnerships Ranger Caraline Abbott. “This is an opportunity for their hard work to be marked on a map so that Rotorua can be represented on a national map of predator control.”

“Locally we’ve seen great results produced from landowners and groups who have dedicated themselves to controlling predators that have the potential to decimate native bird populations and destroy native forests.”

Recently, likeminded individuals from the Okere Falls community met to discuss predator control options with a view of protecting threatened North Island Dabchick populations in Lake Rotoiti. Their work will compliment predator control currently being completed by groups and individuals in the Okareka and Tarawera area.

In the past 18 months, Mike Vincent along with Landcare Okareka has caught 300 rats, 40 Hedgehogs, 2 feral cats and 22 ferrets using a strategic trapping network.  Together with pest control as part of the Tikitapu Mistletoe Project (managed by Rotorua Forest and Bird) and the Tarawera Pest Control group, the threat of predation to native birds has been decreased.

“The ferrets have been prolific this year and we have dispatched 22. Last year we only caught two” says Mr Vincent.

The Predator Free NZ prize money can be spent on further predator control work including trapping and monitoring. The winner will be announced on May 26 2015.

To register predator control activity visit www.predatorfreenz.org.

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