Rodent alert on New Zealand island sanctuary

A rat and some mice have been detected on Mokoia Island. Credit DOC

April 2010. Mokoia Island houses a number of endangered species that just became a little more endangered of late. A dead rat in a trap and multiple tracks of mice were discovered on the Island during routine monthly checks by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) staff.

"We believe that the rat and mice must have arrived some time in the last month, since the tracking tunnels & traps were last checked" said DOC Rotorua Lakes Area Manager Nicki Douglas.

"While it is not known how the vermin arrived on the island, it is probable that cause is increased people and boat traffic to the island. We are currently laying out extra traps, baits and tracking tunnels in order to catch the mice and ensure that the rat was alone, returning the island to being pest free. These situations are highly avoidable if the correct quarantine procedures are followed before heading to the island" commented Nicki.

Mokoia Island
Waiora - Mokoia Island Experience and the Mokoia Island Trust Board are working very closely with the DOC on this response, providing staff, a skipper and a boat.

"The unfortunate thing is that these eradication operations are expensive and come at a cost of other conservation work"

Pest free since 2001
The island is home to endangered birds including Kokako, Kiwi, Weka and Saddleback and an outbreak could devastate the populations. Mokoia Island has housed a number of endangered species since 1990 and has been a pest-free island since 2001.

DOC, the Mokoia Island trust Board and Waiora would like to remind people that all visitors to the Island must get a permit and quarantine checks via Wai Ora - Mokoia Island Experiences.

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