Maungatautari closing in on the last few pests - Mice, rabbits, hares & goats.

Closing in on the last mouse

September 2008. Mice will soon be an endangered species on Maungatautari if the recent eradication success continues.

That is the ultimate aim of the Maungatautari Trust and, with the results from the latest monitoring round showing a few mice hot spots in the centre and dotted along the eastern boundary of the mountain, it is close to becoming a reality.

Monthly monitoring
"While mice numbers are decreasing at the moment we are not about to relax - it is imperative that we remain vigilant, continue to gather data via our monthly monitoring regime, and eradicate mice when they are detected, said Trust chief executive Jim Mylchreest.

"Our aim is to have a totally pest free Maungatautari - as a precaution though, we must assume there are still mice in previously indicated hotspots and will therefore still conduct our final aerial poison bait drop for the year once the weather allows."

Rabbits, hares and 2 goats
A few rabbits and hares remain on the mountain along with two wild goats. Judas goats with bright orange collars with transmitters attached have not paired up with the wild goats prompting the Trust to contract a goat hunter to locate any present.

Already eradicated - Possums, weasels, ferrets, stoats, hedgehogs, red deer, fallow deer, rats, pigs, cats and dogs
The northern and southern enclosures on Maungatautari have been pest free since mid 2006. In November that year the Trust conducted the first aerial poison operation across the remaining 3,300ha on the mountain and since then 11 of the 15 pest species have been removed. Possums, weasels, ferrets, stoats, hedgehogs, red deer, fallow deer, Norway rats, pigs, cats and dogs have not been detected during 2008.

2668 tracking tunnels
During the monthly monitoring round volunteers and Trust staff walk an average of 4.5km each, to replace tracking cards slotted into 2,668 tracking tunnels which are strategically positioned along the 260km of monitoring lines. There is a tracking tunnel within 100 metres of any given point on the mountain.

Endangered wildife to return
Once the pest species are removed a host of wildlife, many endangered, can be returned to the mountain.