Bushy Park's in full rat attack mode

Bushy Park Photo/File

The crisis continues at Wanganui's Bushy Park, where rats have been found inside a predator fence erected to protect endangered birds.

More than nine rats have now been caught inside the 100ha forest sanctuary. Bushy Park Trust chairwoman Liz Tennet said it was still unclear how long rats had been inside the fence, or how they got there.

A Conservation Department (DoC) plan is being implemented by up to 30 volunteers this weekend. They will be checking the fence for holes once again, setting and checking more than 100 rat traps and putting poison in tracking tunnels.

They have also cut back branches on both sides of the fence, to make sure rats can't get in by climbing trees.

There's no evidence so far that the rats are harming endangered tieke (saddleback), hihi (stitchbird) and toutouwai (North Island robin) or the other birds in the sanctuary.

Ms Tennet said the help offered since the news broke has been marvellous - from individuals and from DoC, Horizons Regional Council and supporters of the Rotokare Scenic Reserve and the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. Carloads of Rotokare supporters are expected this weekend.

There have also been donations.

Ms Tennet said the trust was very grateful for everything and could still use more volunteers. Anyone who can help should contact project manager Mandy Brooke on 06 347 7398.

The serious rat incursion was a shock for the trust, and should be a wake-up call.

Ms Tennet said the sanctuary needed more resources, and a fulltime ranger. It may also have to revise the way vehicles enter through a double gate system.

Forest & Bird owns Bushy Park, and conservation and volunteer manager Chris Todd said volunteers put in hundreds of hours' work there.

"We are always on the lookout for more funds to put in more paid hours."

The park, on Rangitatau East Rd 25km from Wanganui, has had a successful tieke and hihi breeding programme. It's also home to bellbirds, kereru, North Island robin, kiwi, morepork, falcon, fantail, grey warbler, mallard, silvereye, kingfishers and white faced heron.