Kereru © James Allan
5th May 2025
The graph above compares shows the catch totals for the first three months of 2025.The unspecified/rabbits category includes rabbits and catches that were not able to be identified, usually related to AT220 rodent strikes. As of the 31st of March 2025, the combined predator control efforts we have data for in the Whakatipu removed 3673 introduced pests, well over 1000 pests every month.
Looking back at the same time last year, the overall numbers are pretty similar, but possums are up and mustelids are down slightly.
Ferrets – 113 were caught in the same period in 2024 and 76 in 2025.
Stoats – 143 in 2024 vs 100 in 2025.
Weasels – 20 in 2024 vs 28 in 2025.
Of the species we are targeting as part of the PF2050 mission – possums, rats and mustelids, the totals are:
20025 First Quarter Totals
Possums – 1380
Rats – 476
Mustelids – 204
For all species, our 2025 monthly catch totals are:
January – 1137 pests
February – 1097 pests
March – 1339 pests
Monitoring
Wye Creek:
For our Wye Creek project, with Southern Lakes Sanctuary we started doing waxtag and camera monitoring in July 2024, with plans to run this monitoring biannually. Our first round of waxtags resulted in a 58% waxtag index (WTI), while our second round had gone up slightly at 60%. At other sites we have found the second round of waxtags to be slightly higher which may be due to scent trails rather than higher numbers of possums being present.
Our camera monitoring showed less presence of rodents and possums, but slightly more feral cats and stoats.
We will use this information to help us decide where to install any new traps and where we need to be concentrating our efforts.
Wye Creek Trail Camera Monitoring – Feral cat
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