The Pest-free Hibiscus Coast Project offers several levels of participation, from trapping rats and possums, to volunteering or business sponsorship. Please select the option below that most suits you:
Possum trapping on your property
Already trapping and want to join our project?
Got your traps? Click on the link below for instructions on how to register on Trap.nz
Get a rat trap for your backyard
- No charge as the trap is on long term loan, donations are very welcome
- Pet-safe, easy, humane
- You must register and record your catches on Trap.nz or via the Record a Trap Catch form.
Anyone living in the project area highlighted on the map below can order a rat trap from us at anytime, just click on the link above.
The only “catch” is that you need to keep setting your trap and reporting your catches over time. Instructions on how to do this are provided.
What’s really important is to keep setting your trap regularly, whether you catch a lot of not. Keep trying different baits and ask for help if you need it, the main thing is that if a rat does comes along your trap is ready and waiting.
Neighbourhood Groups & Community Volunteers
Wherever you live on the Hibiscus Coast, we’d love you help you start trapping together with your neighbours. Neighbourhood / street groups are popping up all over the Hibiscus Coast as people recognise how much more effective and satisfying it is to trap together.
We are looking for members of the community who are keen to get more involved, be it through doing a simple mail drop, delivering traps or supporting local trappers with improving their catch rate and recording catches.
To make the most of our resources and focus our impact, in 2023 we are giving an extra boost to promote backyard trapping in the following Hub areas. In these areas in particular, we are looking for lots of community volunteers, with support from Andrea, our Community Hub Activator
- Stanmore Bay West
- Millwater South, Silverdale, Red Beach West
- Orewa North – Orewa South
Contacts:
Community Hub Activator – Andrea Dick, andrea.d@forestandbird.org.nz for advice on backyard trapping and using Trap.NZ to record your catches:
Project Manager – Jenny Hanwell
As Pest Free Hibiscus Coast is dependent on grant funding, if you are able, a koha / donation is welcome towards our work. These can be made via online banking to Hibiscus Coast Branch Forest & Bird 38-9020-0362827-03 using PFHC as a reference.
Pest free Hibiscus coast volunteers with traps
Possum or Hedgehog Trap Library
Volunteer Derek setting up a humane tested Flipping Timmy possum trap.
Possums can cause huge damage to native forests, preventing tree growth , flowering and fruiting, as well as consuming native birds eggs and chicks.
Hedgehogs pose a significant threat to our ground nesting birds such as the tūturiwhatu, New Zealand dotterel which nests on some of our local beaches. They can travel 2km in one night, and push the adults off the nests to eat the eggs, a scenario which can also happen in your chook house. In addition, they eat large amounts of invertebrates, competing with native birds, consuming as much as 160g in just one night, a diet that includes our native wētā.
Contact us to borrow a humane, easy to use trap for 6 weeks.
Already got a trap or bait station?
Join our project! Register with us and let us know where you are and when you catch something or get bait taken. Contact us for advice on how to record your catches / bait take, or create an account on www.trap.nz, then find the Pest Free Hibiscus Coast Project Hub for your area and request to join.
Restore Hibiscus & Bays Network & Pest Plants:
Do you want to get involved in trapping but live elsewhere in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area? Visit the Restore Hibiscus & Bays website for more information about action for conservation where you live.
Restore Hibiscus & Bays also has lots of information about controlling pest plants available on their website. Forest & Bird Hibiscus Coast branch is working with them to target pest plants on reserves and private land across the community.
Pest Free Hibiscus Coast is currently supported by:
Auckland Council, Foundation North, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, Lotteries Environment & Heritage.
In 2021-2 we were also supported by grants from Department of Conservation and Little Kowhai Charitable Trust (managed by Perpetual Guardian)
We would also like to thank, Gulf Harbour Marina, Forty Thieves, Arvida, Gulf Harbour Country Club and Bunnings Warehouse for their ongoing support and donations locally.
Project contact
Jenny Hanwell - j.hanwell@forestandbird.org.nz