Paihia rat trap thefts put island wildlife at risk

Motumaire and Motuarahi islands, just off Paihia, are home to native skinks and endangered birds such as the endangered New Zealand dotterel. Photo / Stephen Western

A Bay of Islands environmental group is disappointed by the theft of rat traps from two small but ecologically valuable islands — but heartened by the public response since word of the thefts got out.

Bay Bush Action trustee Brad Windust said automatic re-setting traps on Motumaire and Motuarahi islands, just north of Paihia wharf, had been bought with a $400 donation.

The theft was discovered last week by volunteer Karen Markin, who regularly swims to the islands to check the traps.

Since 2013 the group had caught 267 rats and one possum on the islands and observed an increase in native wildlife, especially skinks.

A rat preys on a piwakawaka or fantail nest. Photo / file

The islands were also home to endangered New Zealand dotterels, oystercatchers, tui and kingfishers.

''So they're pretty important little islands for wildlife.''

Windust said he had been heartened by Northlanders' response to the theft, which included donations to cover the cost of replacements. A Haruru Falls family had also donated four new re-setting traps.

The group is planning measures to ensure any new traps can't be stolen.

Windust urged whoever took the Goodnature A24 traps to get in touch so he could understand their motivation.

There was no need to steal them because the group provided traps for people in the Paihia area who wanted to help reduce pest numbers.

''We won't judge you, and we definitely won't name and shame you. Maybe you're an animal activist, maybe you needed the traps elsewhere, we just want to know so we can help,'' Windust said.

Rats were easily able to swim back and forth between the islands, where there was no fresh water, and the shore. However, it was a mystery how the possum got there because the Australian invaders are not known for their swimming ability.