Lowest rat numbers yet since monitoring began in New Plymouth
Photo:
Supplied / Taranaki Regional Council
Rat numbers in New Plymouth are the lowest they have been since a community group began monitoring their numbers in the city seven years ago.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki began in 2018 with the goal of
removing rats, possums and mustelids
(stoats, weasels and ferrets) from across the region.
Each year the community project led by Taranaki Regional Council carries out rat monitoring in the same
10 locations across New Plymouth
. At each site, 10 tracking cards covered in ink are placed in baited tunnels and left out for one night.
This year 11 percent of the cards had rat tracks on them, compared with 16 percent last year and 36 percent in 2018.
That was not the only good news - insect footprints were present on 44 percent of the cards, up from 28 percent in 2018.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki programme lead Nick Heslop said while this tracking represented a single snapshot in time, the seven-year trend showed the community's efforts were making a difference.
"We're delighted with this year's result and want to say a massive well done and thanks to everyone who traps at home or volunteers in our public parks and walkways."
A graph showing the percentage of tracking cards with rat footprints on them over the years.
Photo:
Supplied / Taranaki Regional Council
Heslop said more than one in five New Plymouth households had a trap in their backyard, in addition to hundreds on public land.
"There were almost 4000 rats caught in New Plymouth in 2024 according to the trap.nz app, with the actual number likely to be much higher.
"Setting a rat trap in your backyard is a simple way anyone can do your bit for our environment and protect our precious native species. The feedback we get is that it is incredibly rewarding, especially when the birds return to their gardens."
Heslop said New Plymouth District Council was responsible for trapping in public spaces across the district and coordinated a keen group of volunteers.
"The NPDC staff and volunteers deserve a massive shout out for all their mahi as this would not be possible without their commitment and passion."
Heslop said the hard work was paying off.
Whio/blue duck, miromiro/tomtit, kākā, kārearea/New Zealand falcon and toutouwai/North Island robin had all been seen in or close to New Plymouth. Kiwi were thriving on the Kaitake Range, while ōi/grey-faced petrels and other seabirds were establishing on the Taranaki coastline.
Heslop said the prevalence of insects this year was also great news as invertebrates were essential to the functioning of ecosystems.
Rodents eat wētā, stick insects, spiders, cicadas and beetles, which also meant less food for native birds.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pak'n Save customer stunned by 1.1kg rock in bag of potatoes
The customer found a 1.1kg rock in a Pam's bag of potatoes. Photo: TikTok/@memoriesmind93 Foodstuffs says a customer who found a stone in her bag of potatoes can have a fresh bag - and she doesn't even have to give back the rock. The woman posted on TikTok that she had just finished peeling potatoes from a Pam's bag bought from Pak'n Save. Among the potatoes was a large rock. When she put it on her kitchen scales, it weighed more than 1.1 kilograms. "You cannot tell me this is a potato because it weighs a kilo and then some," she said. Other people had commented on the video that it had happened to them, too. A Foodstuffs spokesperson said it seemed the potato-shaped, dirt-covered rock managed to sneak through the potato processing gate. "We appreciate the customer's surprise - it would have been problematic to peel and there's obviously not much nutritional value in boiled or roast rocks, so they've got every reason to call it out," they said. "The store is aware of the situation and will happily give the customer a replacement bag of potatoes, without having to return the original bag, or the rock." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
St John plan to axe community programmes
Devastation, dismay and shock were some of the reactions to St John's plan to axe a raft of community programmes. Hato Hone wants them gone by next year as part of decade-long strategy. 1100 volunteers could go, those are people helping out in emergency departments and rest homes, pick up groceries for those unable to, reading and offering companionship. Now there are warnings of grave consequences if the changes go through. Kim Baker Wilson reports. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
Plane emergency at Christchurch Airport
Christchurch Airport. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon A plane has landed safely after an emergency at Christchurch Airport. Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said it was alerted at 4:30 on Thursday that there was an issue with an aircraft. One fire crew was called from Ilam. The plane landed safely and FENZ has left the scene. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
