Mighty mouse succumbs at last

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An extremely determined mouse that kept a team of expert trackers and trappers on its tail for 61 days has finally gone the way of all flesh, but not without a fight.

The elusive rodent first came to attention in October, when trappers employed by Te Rawhiti Enterprises found mouse tracks in a tracking tunnel on Moturua Island, near Russell.

Moturua is a pest-free island, part of Project Island Song, which aims to restore native flora and fauna in the Bay of Islands, and the Department of Conservation's pest incursion response team swung into action immediately with rodent tracking dogs, rangers and skilled volunteers.

The mouse, however, had no intention of being caught.

DoC Bay of Islands biodiversity ranger Adrian Walker said the mouse's refusal to be lured into traps, even when baited with grapes, cheese and chocolate, had left him increasingly anxious.

"Mice normally have home ranges of about 50 square metres, but this mouse roamed over at least 500 square metres, at least a quarter of the island," he said.

However, after 61 days of tracking and trapping, the rogue rodent was finally caught at the mouth of a World War II water pipe at Army Bay.

DoC Bay of Islands biosecurity ranger Angela Newport said it was not clear how the male mouse had arrived.

"It's possible it came with illegal campers or with other people using Army or Mangahawea bays," she said.

"At this time we don't know whether it was a sole invader or if there are still other mice on the island. So far the checks have been clear for two weeks.

"We don't want mice ... as insect and bird populations are recovering well without them."

People could help Project Island Song succeed by checking their gear and boats for stowaways before leaving the mainland, she added.