Latest Pulse Report - March 2025

Great outcome from our February pulse! A little background info on how we review our work and plot our progress.

As you know the STNN does coordinated pulses ( using bait in our Predator Control areas) four times a year. This Pulsing of bait stations along our trap lines dramatically reduces pest numbers, and is our best weapon in Predator Control.

Once the four weeks of pulsing is completed, we do careful monitoring of the area using monitoring tunnels. The tunnels record pest activity after the pulse is completed. We also assess the amount of bait taken during the pulse and look at where exactly the bait has been taken in our zones. This data plus the monitoring results, gives us a picture of the area we are working in.

It is very satisfying to see the numbers in predators in the area declining steadily as a result of our work. This decline is in both the original area and the second newer area bought into our control over the last few months. Importantly, our monitoring results show that rat numbers have dropped to 5%. This is a significant milestone, as experts believe that at 5% nature can safely make a comeback and birdlife, as well as fauna, begins to recover.

Some facts for you....

- Only 2 rats were detected in 38 monitoring tunnels across the 46 hectares under predator control.

- Only 2 possums were detected by us, near the western coastline.

- There is a lot of hedgehog activity in the middle; they cause damage to native bird eggs and chicks, as well as lizards and invertebrates.

- So far we have removed 2402 rats and 31 possums in our predator control area.

A sincere thank you to everyone in the Predator Control Zone who supports us by allowing our volunteers and contractors to access their properties to do this important work. Well done to everyone that has been out there; trapping, baiting and monitoring to make this happen! The image shown above gives a snapshot of our current status.

The job isn't over yet; we need to keep it up, but we are on the right track to create a sanctuary for people and nature, right here in Titirangi.