Yesterday a new group of keen trappers from Bream Bay College and One Tree Point Schools visited Pukekauri Dam to resume our pest trapping efforts for 2024. After having set the traps for the final time before the holidays almost 2 months ago, we were unsure what would be found.

Steve made a trip up to the dam the week before us to rebait the trapline. He discovered: 1 possum, 1 Norway rat, 1 weasel and a very dessicated stoat! Our biggest hit of mustelids yet!

Unfortunately, there were no new pests in our traps after the recent baiting, but now we are all set up and ready to go for next term, with students having been up-skilled and prepped in baiting and setting of the various range of traps. Our Weweia/ NZ dabchick friends were nowhere to be seen, but we hope to spot them again in the coming weeks. We look forward to hearing Ruakākā and Waipu’s report next week before the term 1 holidays!