Mangaotama Stream & Wetlands Restoration Trust

23/12/2024

Stage two of three of the possum monitoring in the Mangaotama stream is complete. We had 5 at220 traps running again over the last 6 weeks which accounted for a total of 65 possums and 9 rats in an area of approximately 5 acres. We pulled the traps yesterday (23/12/24) and 3 of the 5 traps had relatively fresh kills under them so at an estimate there could be between 15-20 possums per acre of wetland which is extremely high. We have killed 128 possums in the monitoring zones so far and it will interesting to see what the next monitoring area will produce.

30/11/2024

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/taupo-predator-control-event-to-master-animal-behaviour-boost-trapping-success/ZRXFSUFIDJH6HBQTMOYDFV3LJA/

'Understanding animal behaviour is significant in trapping pests for better outcomes.'

27/10/2024

If only you could go back in time and talk some sense into past generations like the colonials who successfully released possums into New Zealand in 1858 if only they new the devastating affects they would cause to our native trees and birds but all that was far from there minds as a lucrative fur trade had been established and our delicate native bush was about to take a hammering. Move on 170 odd years with the collapse of the fur trade the problem is worse than it has ever been with possum numbers at an all time high. The Mangaotama trust has started a possum monitoring program at several locations along the Mangaotama stream to get a Guage on numbers. This is done through well serviced at220 auto traps with trail cameras monitoring every movement. Our first site is 5 acres in size and has been going for 3 weeks and the results are staggering. We have killed a total of 41 possums from 5 traps within the 5 acres and 8 possums from a monitor trap 200 meters away from the monitor area within the farm. These numbers are concerning but with well serviced traps and passionate people it won't take long to get on top of the problem.