The Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust, on contract to the Auckland
Regional Council, has established 20 rat monitoring tunnels in the
environs of the Tryphena and Whangaparapara Wharves. The tunnels are
monitored monthly by Dean Medland for the presence of rat and mustelid
footprints. This contract is part of the Auckland Regional Council
Biosecurity Unit’s commitment to keeping Great Barrier Island free of
mustelids and Norway rats. It is supported by the Department of
Conservation monitoring in the Port FitzRoy Wharf area and the Auckland
City Council’s rat control around the rubbish bins at the three wharves.
Thank you for your cooperation in not interfering with the tunnels or
bait stations. Any queries or concerns please phone Judy Gilbert on
306.new NON-POISONOUS rodenticide, "Natural No-Rats" is currently being
marketed by Kiwicare Co. This is specific to rats and mice and kills no
other mammals. It appears like the ideal answer to the problem of
poisons as it kills nothing else except rodents, so it is safe around
humans, pets and livestock and does not accumulate in the environment.
It acts by blocking cellulose digestion – in effect the rats die of
constipation. The GBI Trust is currently researching this product, and
hoping to instigate some large-scale field trials by the manufacturers.
Until this is done we strongly suggest that the product is NOT USED ON
GREAT BARRIER. This is because of the unknown risk of building up
a resistant rat population. Let’s keep the product for use at the final
eradication, when it will be much more effective. The key is to hit the
rats all at once with our best arsenal, rather than risk building
resistance by drip-feeding poisons over years.
