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| Tracking tunnel locations in part of Mangaiti Gully. |
Objective
Is to develop a snap shot of the rat activity in the autumn
(high activity period) and spring (low activity period) each year over a number
of years to assist us to manage our rat eradication programme more effectively.
It will also be used as a base line if, at some point in the future, we make
changes to our present eradication programme.
Method
Tracking tunnels are a standard method of monitoring
recognised by institutions involved in environmental practices in New
Zealand. The target is to have the
tunnels at 50 metre intervals along the gully floor for the entire 30 hectares
of Mangaiti Gully. The tunnels remain in place. At the time of monitoring,
peanut butter is smeared on the wall half way along inside the tunnel. A white
card with a black ink pad in the centre is inserted. This is left over night
and removed the next day. If a rat, or
any other animal (mice or hedgehog) or insect (weta) enters the tunnel and
walks over the ink pad then their foot prints are left on the white card. Each
tunnel is coded and GPS plotted on a map.
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