ENVIRONMENT WATCH
EMERGENCY PEST KITS PROTECT TREASURED ISLANDS
BY JEFF COOK U
nwanted stowaways can cause havoc on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf islands and the Auckland Council is taking firm measures to keep them pest-free. The Treasure Islands campaign is a joint biosecurity initiative between the council and the Department of Conservation to protect pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf.
As part of the campaign, three pest incursion kits have been produced as part of an emergency response to help prevent unexpected and unwanted pests from infesting the islands. Many of the islands are free of predators and provide a safe haven for several of our rarest and most endangered plants and animals, including kiwi, tuatara, stitchbird and saddleback. "It's very reassuring to know that any pest threatening to destroy our special island places can be dealt with in an efficient and professional manner," says the chairperson for the Parks Recreation and Heritage Forum, Sandra Coney. "These kits can be deployed immediately anywhere in the Auckland region, including Great Barrier, Rangitoto, Motutapu, Motuihe, Tiritiri Matangi or any other gulf island." Two kits are available at council depots in Auckland and
Tryphena on Great Barrier Island, and DoC holds a third kit at Devonport.
The three kits have been prepared as part of the council's Gulf Biosecurity Plan and are designed to deal with possums, stoats, feral cats, Norway rats, ship rats, mice, hedgehogs, Argentine
Treasure islands Check for stowaways PLEASE
CHECK YOUR BOAT AND GEAR FOR RATS, MICE, ARGENTINE ANTS, RAINBOW SKINKS, SOIL AND SEEDS
SET BAIT OR TRAPS FOR ANIMAL PESTS REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS TO 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
September/October 2011 Professional Skipper 53
Auckland Council staff members Brian Shields (with beard)
and Jeff Cook, who are biosecurity specialists for the Hauraki Gulf, with Tui, the rodent surveillance and detection dog.
Their DNA is an important tool in helping to pinpoint where they came from
ants and other pests.
The kits include spotlights, maps, traps, tracking tunnels, wag tags and chew cards, plus flour, sugar and other lures. They do not include toxins, as it is better to catch and identify the pests. Their DNA is an important tool in helping to pinpoint where they came from. "We can all play a part in keeping the islands free of pests by checking boats and gear for stowaways before leaving the mainland or travelling between islands," says Coney. See www.treasureislands.co.nz.
www.projectislandsong.co.nz www.treasureislands.co.nz
