This report covers December 2025–February 2026. Key points:
● An analysis of annual trapping and camera detection data illustrates a clear shift in catch rates for certain species over the past four years.
● Our regular toxin program was put on hold in late 2025 to allow rodents to breed over summer – we will use these as vectors for mustelid control.
● At the beginning of February, we farewelled Kees and Fern who set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
● This summer, we’ve welcomed Skye Donovan to fill Kees and Fern’s ranger position; Amie Redpath, Wendy Bown and Nate McDonald (former ranger) as causal track clearers; and Pete Mitchell (former head ranger) as the new contractor liaison.
● Stephanie Tong from the Northland Regional Council helped us plan a presence/absence survey for pekapeka/long-tailed bats and analysed the data for us – unfortunately there were no detections, but survey limitations may warrant future surveys.
● We had a successful ōi/grey-faced petrel season with 10 chicks presumed fledged, and a stoat was caught at burrow site A in December.
● A drone survey was completed in December by local Murray Brock from Culture Drones. The survey coincided with the moth plant flowering period.
● The nursery has been humming along over summer with a wide range of volunteers getting stuck in. We have ~7500 plants pricked out in the shade house reading for the winter planting season to come.
For more details read this month's full Rangers Report using the button on this page.