Predator Free Titahi Bay

07/10/2026

Our September catch update. Remember this is rat breeding season, so please keep up the amazing work and check those traps! Also, the Longest Rat competition is back on, so don't forget your tape measure when checking your traps.

15/09/2026

THE LONGEST RAT COMPETITION IS STILL ON!

Apologies team, this competition slipped off the radar over winter, but this is an announcement that it is still on and we will be promoting it more in the months to come!

Below are those who submitted the longest rats over the last few months, with the size and photos of their catches shown. To those who have yet to receive their prize ($50 B**r Engine voucher) we will be in touch!

For the rest of this month, keep posting your pictures of your catches, with the length of the rats shown next to a measure of some sort, and we will announce the winners at the end of the month (for real this time).

Good luck and happy trapping team!

14/09/2026

September is rat breeding season and keeping rat numbers down is crucial in protecting our native wildlife!

Contact Predator Free Tītahi Bay if you need a trap for or help with a rat problem. If you already have a trap, clean it up and fire it into action with peanut butter – a high protein food that rats love.

The Happy Trapper

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Rat Breeding Facts

Gestation period: Pregnancy lasts about 21 to 23 days.

Litter size: Each birth yields between 5 and 14 pups (averaging 6 to 12).

Quick turnaround: Females can mate and conceive again within 24 to 48 hours of giving birth.

Fast maturity: The young pups reach sexual maturity and start breeding themselves in just 5 to 9 weeks.

While New Zealand's mild climate allows rats to breed year-round when food is available, the peak breeding and activity window spans these warmer months (September to April/May).

13/09/2026

BIRDS OF THE BAY - KERERŪ

The 2018 Bird of the Year champion, kererū can often be spotted flying around the Bay of munching on berries and leaves (pictured). These ones loved hanging around on View Road and loved to pose for the camera.

Hopefully as we continue our efforts, we will see more of them making themselves at home in our gardens.

Also, voting for Bird of the Year ends next week - https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

10/09/2026

BIRDS OF THE BAY - KĀREAREA

To celebrate Bird of the Year, we are sharing some of the birds you can find here in Tītahi Bay, and today we are starting with the Bird of the Year 2025 champion, the kārearea/New Zealand Falcon. People often see them in Whitireia Park and on Mana Island, and the one pictured below was hanging out in Stuart Park a few years ago and gave your resident social media guy quite the shock when he saw this one.

Have you seen them around the Bay?

08/09/2026

VOTING FOR BIRD OF THE YEAR 2026 IS NOW OPEN!

The wildest election happening this year in Aotearoa has started, and it is time for you to cast your votes! You have 5 votes to give for your favourite birds and you can vote at https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

Last year the kārearea - a manu you can sometimes find in Tītahi Bay - took out the crown, but who will win it this year? To help with your voting, we'll be doing a daily post of some of the birds you might see around the Bay if you want to support a local candidate.

07/09/2026

Not as many catches during the last month of winter as expected, and great work everyone for getting out in the cold and the rain!

Now that spring is here, birds are moving into mating season and the rats will be more active, so staying on top of them will be crucial!

Stay tuned for tips to navigate this important trapping period

06/08/2026

Another great month of trapping team! Thanks again to everyone doing their part - you lot are legends!

26/05/2026

A massive thank you to those who responded to the last call and signed up to be part of the team!

We have a few spots available in upcoming training sessions and we would love to have some more people jump aboard. If you have a few hours to spare to help our native wildlife thrive, read the details below.

Also, we will be at The B**r Engine tomorrow for a couple of social drinks and a catch up, so if you would like to come along to find out more we'd love to chat there.

Volunteer Trappers Wanted!

Do you love the outdoors, live locally, and want to help our native wildlife thrive? Predator Free Tītahi Bay is looking for community-minded people to help service our expanding network of reserve traplines.

What's Involved:
🪤Checking and re-baiting traps in Tītahi Bay reserves every 2–4 weeks.
📈Recording catch data via the TrapNZ app.
🐀Helping to eliminate rats, mustelids, and hedgehogs to protect native biodiversity.

What We Offer:
👩‍🏫Full Training: We will teach you safe and effective trapping techniques (DOC best practice).
🤝Support: Join a passionate team of local volunteers
🦺Gear: All traps and materials are provided

Requirements:
💪A reasonable level of fitness for walking in reserves
⛑️Commitment to safety and following protocols
📱Ability to use a smartphone app for data reporting.

This is a fantastic, hands-on way to make a direct impact on our local environment.

Keen to help? Send a message to the Predator Free Titahi Bay page and let us know

13/05/2026

Presenting the winner of April's Longest Rat Competition, and our Trapper of the Month: Ang Strand!

Ang has been an amazing supporter of our native wildlife. As the leader of Tītahi Bay School's Enviro Club, she has been instrumental in getting her students involved by encouraging them to check their traps weekly.

Coincidentally, she was wearing her Predator Free Tītahi Bay shirt when she was presented with her B**r Engine voucher - her prize for her amazing efforts!

The Longest Rat Competition is back on for May, so make sure you get out and keep checking your traps!

From next month we will take a break from awarding the longest rat and will start awarding a prize to a Trapper of the Month for someone who regularly checks their traps.