Date: 17th October 2023
Pest control around Hāwea was started in 2018 to complement the work the Guardians of Lake Hāwea (a committee of the Hāwea Community Association) were doing in managing and maintaining the local ecosystem. The aim is to reduce the number of predators (particularly mustelids, rats, and hedgehogs) in conjunction with increasing native plantings, to bring back the native birds and provide a safer habitat for our local skinks, geckos and insects.
Initially there were two lines of DOC 200 traps along the foreshore of the Lake Hāwea township and from the Hāwea Dam down the town side of the Hāwea river to the settling ponds. This has now grown to four trap lines and extends all the way along the lakefront to Gladstone, and down the river as far as the Camphill Road bridge.
There’s around 161 traps deployed and over 20 volunteers who help check the traps twice a month. Anecdotally at least, we’ve definitely seen an increase in the tui population for starters, particularly through the winter months.
Trapline Coordinator: Cath Watson
More info: https://www.haweacommunity.nz/
Posted in: Trapping Groups