In 2017 we had great success in Rat eradication

North east suburb of Hamilton. Gordonton Road is the right hand boundary. 

One of the highlights of 2017 is the clearance of rats from a 20 hectare section of a 30 hectare gully system. To understand the significance of this you need to understand that half of that gully has no tracks, is extremely boggy and the only access is via the residential properties that border the gully (and that it was full of rats). It has been the support of the community that enabled this to happen. Sixty bait stations using bromadiolone (Contra) bait blocks (only a fifth the strength of brodifacoum) serviced by 16 community service agents that have been trained in Health and safety to handle the baits, service the station and record the results. A young tui was spotted in this area for the first time this season and an increase in weta numbers has been observed which, in all, indicates a recovery in the native biodiversity. A very successful urban programme achieved at a cost of less than $1000.





What is disappointing is the lack of interest and financial support for this project from the Hamilton institutions that supposedly are guardians of our environment.