1000 pests caught in Mt Victoria

Wellington, NZ - A group of Wellingtonians are making one of the city’s most-visited places a haven for wildlife. In just over a year the Mt Victoria Vermin Trappers have caught 1000 pests, including nine weasels and dozens of rats.

The area is the most-visited part of Wellington’s town belt, with more people walking through the Southern Walkway each year than the famous Tongariro Crossing.

Now people are also noticing an increase in wildlife, with birds such kākā, ruru (morepork), tui, kārearea (NZ falcon), fantail, grey warbler, and shining cuckoo becoming more common.

Mt Victoria Vermin Trappers come from suburbs surrounding Mt Victoria's Town Belt. The group of around 30 Trappers have over 250 traps set in the area. Regular monitoring using chew cards by the group over the last two years has shown a sustained decrease in rats and mice.

Mayor Justin Lester thanks the group for their work, calling the project a big success.

“Projects and people like the Mount Victoria Vermin Trappers are the driving force behind a Predator Free Wellington,” said Lester.

“It’s great to see our native birds coming back to even the busiest parts of our Wellington forests.”

The group has recently expanded into backyard trapping, with the launch of Predator Free Mt Vic, and encourages locals to get involved.

"It's really awesome to see the community come together," said volunteer Cam Hayes.

"We are starting to see so much more wildlife, and trapping's become a really cool way to protect that while getting to know your neighbours."

The group have been supported by Rotary Club of Wellington and Wellington City Council as well as the Thankyou Charitable Trust, Wellington Mountain Bike Club and Ron and Edna Greenwood Environmental Trust.

ENDS

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