Pests in the Whāngārā area took a hammering recently when the local Community Catchment Group ran its 'Pest Control Competition' – the tally included 683 possums.
Pests in the Whāngārā area took a hammering recently when the local Community Catchment Group ran its 'Pest Control Competition' – the tally included 683 possums.
The Whāngārā Community Catchment Group hosted its second Pest Control Competition recently, and it’s going from strength to strength.
Twice as many pests were culled across Whāngārā when compared with the first event – 1400 in total, including 409 goats, 683 possums, 21 deer, 232 pest birds, and 25 verminand two mustelids, were trapped.
“This is a snapshot of the extent of the pest problem that is decimating Whāngārā’s natural environment,” said group member Sarah Williams.
“The recently launched ‘Leading from the Land’ [group] helped to fund the event this year, assisting with co-ordination time, catering, providing certificates for the kids, and spot prizes for the largest numbers of pests culled.
“We had 120 people enter, including 70 children, and this aligns with the key purpose of our catchment groups to leave the environment better than we found it and to instil this connection with nature in future generations.”
Little Emi Maclaurin-Foster helps out with one of the pest traps used.
Five trapping teams were entered, including Whāngārā School, which trapped the Koitumutu wetland, which the school has been restoring through planting and trapping.
“They caught a stoat worth 50 points.”
Spot prizes were given out to the kids, and local businesses were right behind the event with sponsorship from Hunting and Fishing, Aratu Forests, Vet East, Ravensdown, Dickie Direct, Feral Pest Solutions and the Rural Support Trust.
The Whāngārā pest control competition had a real community feel to it for participants.
“The local hapu Ngāti Konohi supported local tamariki and their whānau with rat traps and mustelid traps being distributed to homes,” she said.
“We are excited to see how our local flora and fauna regenerates as we get on top of these introduced pests and predators that are causing so much damage across the region.
“It was wonderful to get the whole community together for a common cause of protecting our whenua.”
