We are aiming to educate people about nature, reduce the number of pests in the region and protect precious native wildlife which is vulnerable to predators.
Wānaka Backyard Trapping formed in 2018 and has slowly grown in its membership and activities. Our committee includes technical trapping experts, an education advisor, a community engagement coordinator and seven trapline coordinators. We are one of the consortium member groups of Southern Lakes Sanctuary – a landscape scale conservation project with initial funding from Jobs For Nature.
We currently run 15 trapping projects on public land, targeting a wide range of introduced predators – mice, rats, hedgehogs, possums, stoats, ferrets and weasels. We have more than 500 traps in these projects which include a mix of DOC 150/200/250 mechanisms, mouse traps, Trapinators, Timms and Flipping Timmy’s.
In addition, more than 300 traps on private land are active in our area and an additional 20 traps are held in our trap library for locals to borrow.
Since our group formed, more than 2000 predators have been removed from our local environment by trapping within our projects on public land. All of the trapping work was done by a small network of dedicated volunteers.
We undertake regular monitoring of pest species using tracking tunnels – these sometimes show lizard footprints too! Bird monitoring is also done quarterly by experienced experts from our committee.
Public engagement is growing as more locals become aware of the native species in our region and the risks they face from predation, habitat loss and a changing climate. We work closely with other environmental groups and organisations to encourage the planting of native trees and shrubs, enhancement of waterways and biodiversity education for children and adults.
We also want to engage more locals by educating them about introduced predators, native wildlife and ways in which to proactively manage predators on their own land. Every trap brings us one step closer to the ultimate goal of making the Upper Clutha a predator-free region of Aotearoa. We publish a quarterly newsletter and organise public talks by visiting experts, trapping workshops and school/preschool visits.
Ideally we want to expand our trapping network to cover more ground and link up existing trap lines. Hundreds more traps and plenty of people power will be needed to achieve this goal! The benefits of our mahi? More native birds, lizards and invertebrates in our backyards, reserves, waterways and mountains… all contributing their ‘ecosystem services’ to the environment, making the Wānaka region an even more amazing place to live!
The Upper Clutha region describes the network of rivers, valleys, lakes, wetlands and mountains surrounding the settlements of Wānaka, Hāwea, Hāwea Flat, Albert Town, Luggate and Queensberry.
Although this region has been vastly modified by humans over hundreds of years, many ‘biodiversity hotspots’ remain. Mou Waho Island – a predator-free sanctuary in Lake Wānaka; the kanuka-clad Mt Iron; the regenerating forest on the shores of the lakes, creeks and rivers. Patches of native beech forest cling onto steep mountainsides while ancient Podocarp trees hide away on the western side of Lake Wānaka. Incredible alpine areas tower over everything.
The region is home to at least 50 native bird species, which can be recorded via the eBird app. Thirteen species of endemic lizards (skinks and geckos) have been found here too, including alpine species. The invertebrate species are yet to be counted but are diverse and found from the lakes up to the mountain tops.
We work with many local groups and organisations: Albert Town Community Association, Hāwea Community Association, Luggate Community Association, Penrith Residents Group, Kirimoko Park residents, Hidden Hills residents, Lakeside Road Enhancement Group, WAI Wānaka, Cardrona/RealNZ, Wānaka Community Workshop, Bike Wānaka, EnviroSchools, NaturED, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Otago Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Forest & Bird’s Central Otago Lakes Branch, Our Place, Whakatipu Wildlife Trust and the Southern Lakes Sanctuary.
Wānaka Backyard Trapping is a consortium member of the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust, established in 2021 with funding from the NZ government via the Jobs For Nature / Mahi mō te taiao programme. We are represented on the Sanctuary’s board of trustees by one of our committee members. Our Community Engagement position is funded by the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust. Our trapping networks are being expanded due to generous support from the Southern Lakes Sanctuary and its team of staff.