A tracking card covered in ink. Photo: Supplied / Taranaki Regional Council
Rat numbers in New Plymouth are the lowest they have been since a community group began monitoring their numbers in the city seven years ago.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki began in 2018 with the goal of removing rats, possums and mustelids (stoats, weasels and ferrets) from across the region.
Each year the community project led by Taranaki Regional Council carries out rat monitoring in the same 10 locations across New Plymouth. At each site, 10 tracking cards covered in ink are placed in baited tunnels and left out for one night.
This year 11 percent of the cards had rat tracks on them, compared with 16 percent last year and 36 percent in 2018.
That was not the only good news - insect footprints were present on 44 percent of the cards, up from 28 percent in 2018.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki programme lead Nick Heslop said while this tracking represented a single snapshot in time, the seven-year trend showed the community's efforts were making a difference.
"We're delighted with this year's result and want to say a massive well done and thanks to everyone who traps at home or volunteers in our public parks and walkways."
A graph showing the percentage of tracking cards with rat footprints on them over the years. Photo: Supplied / Taranaki Regional Council
Heslop said more than one in five New Plymouth households had a trap in their backyard, in addition to hundreds on public land.
"There were almost 4000 rats caught in New Plymouth in 2024 according to the trap.nz app, with the actual number likely to be much higher.
"Setting a rat trap in your backyard is a simple way anyone can do your bit for our environment and protect our precious native species. The feedback we get is that it is incredibly rewarding, especially when the birds return to their gardens."
Heslop said New Plymouth District Council was responsible for trapping in public spaces across the district and coordinated a keen group of volunteers.
"The NPDC staff and volunteers deserve a massive shout out for all their mahi as this would not be possible without their commitment and passion."
Heslop said the hard work was paying off.
Whio/blue duck, miromiro/tomtit, kākā, kārearea/New Zealand falcon and toutouwai/North Island robin had all been seen in or close to New Plymouth. Kiwi were thriving on the Kaitake Range, while ōi/grey-faced petrels and other seabirds were establishing on the Taranaki coastline.
Heslop said the prevalence of insects this year was also great news as invertebrates were essential to the functioning of ecosystems.
Rodents eat wētā, stick insects, spiders, cicadas and beetles, which also meant less food for native birds.
Rat trapping tips
- Make trapping part of your routine. Check and rebait your traps when you take the rubbish bins out or make it a Saturday morning job - whatever works for you.
- Switch it up. If you haven't caught anything in a while, change the location of the trap or try new bait.
- The rule of thirds. Put bait in the trap, at the entrance to the trap tunnel and outside the tunnel to lure them in.
- Highways, not byways. Place traps where rats are likely to travel - fence lines, tracks, tree rows etc. They also love compost bins!
- Record your catches on trap.nz so Towards Predator-Free Taranaki can see what's happening and where there are gaps.
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