Students learn importance of pest trapping

27 Mar, 2023

Students from Mangawhai Beach School Conservation Group are off to a flying start with their trapping this year, under the guidance of Piro-Brynderwyns Landcare Group. They have caught two hedgehogs already. Though there were some comments about how cute hedgehogs are, students listened carefully as they were given the low-down on what is on the menu for a hedgehog: eggs, lizards, frogs, slugs, snails, wetas and other insects.

A hedgehog has been found with 283 weta legs in its stomach (Predator Free NZ). They can eat up to 160g of invertebrates in a day. As well as eating bird eggs, hedgehogs can eat newly-hatched chicks, so they are a threat to our ground nesting birds.

To date the rat catchers from the conservation group have caught four rats and have plenty of time left to match the efforts of last years Conservation Group – 18 rats. Ask yourself how many native or endemic birds are eaten by one rat in a lifetime, and you can see what a difference a trapping programme in schools is having.

- PHOTO/SUPPLIED