There used to be traps here. Opposite the Oroua campsite after flooding after flooding
Longview Line 100 mustelids Killed!, The Oroua Whio make the News, Low catch numbers, Whio ducklings at Leon Kinvig Hut
Oroua Whio make the news
In October I had the pleasure of taking NZ Herald reporter Alex Robertson and Steve and Mary Bielski on a walk in the Oroua Valley. We were lucky enough on the day to find a couple of ducks - our local Guardian newspaper ran some articles and you can see the resulting video at https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12149110 If you like watching videos check out this short one I helped polytech student Victoria Cave- Higgins make as part of her course work. https://youtu.be/V3XoL5p-Uwo All good publicity for the RWP.
Newly re-furbished Top Gorge Hut Chris Tuffley
Pohangina River
This month there has been some good news from the Pohangina River where 3 whio ducklings have been seen just outside Leon Kinvig hut with their parents . River conditions have been mostly good with only a small flood in recent times so I am hopeful there are other ducklings surviving this year - if anyone is out there and spots some let us all know.
The A24 line has been rebaited and regassed. Ben Douglas did some of the traps upstream from Leon Kinvig in October. Chris Tuffley (PNTMC) did an epic one person rebait from Top Gorge to below Ngamoko in November. Graham Peters went to Mid Pohangina Hut and did the rest of the line. Chris T and Elly Arnst did the traps above the recently refurbished Top Gorge Hut last weekend to finish off the line. Most of the A24's appear to be functioning well with a small number leaking at regas. Thank to all for a big effort - if you would like to help with this line over the summer please let me know.
Longview Line - 100+ mustilids
This line of 120 Double Doc 200 traps has now been in use for 2 years and has caught (to mid Nov 2018) 90 stoats, 16 weasels, 10 rats, 5 hedgehogs and 3 mice. The rat catch is very low compared to the traps at a lower altitude (or closer to rivers?). Thanks to Ben, Gautum, Anthony, Fiona, Ian, Yori and Damian for recent rebaits on this line and to the PNTMC group who cleared some traps back in September.
Oroua River
Sept rebait (3 stoats, 23 rats) - rebait done by a group from PNTMC - thanks to Craig and Mike Allerby, Grant Christian, Warren Wheeler, Graham Peters.
October (6S,1weasel, 31R,1 possum) - thanks to Ernie Cook, Catherine Jackson, Graeme Richards and Bryan and Monica Charlton and Gordon Groube for the October rebait. Gordon did a big solo trip around the Triangle Circuit for the first time since winter. This included a rebait of the new 24's upstream from Triangle Hut.
This line of 120 Double Doc 200 traps has now been in use for 2 years and has caught (to mid Nov 2018) 90 stoats, 16 weasels, 10 rats, 5 hedgehogs and 3 mice. The rat catch is very low compared to the traps at a lower altitude (or closer to rivers?). Thanks to Ben, Gautum, Anthony, Fiona, Ian, Yori and Damian for recent rebaits on this line and to the PNTMC group who cleared some traps back in September.
Oroua River
Sept rebait (3 stoats, 23 rats) - rebait done by a group from PNTMC - thanks to Craig and Mike Allerby, Grant Christian, Warren Wheeler, Graham Peters.
October (6S,1weasel, 31R,1 possum) - thanks to Ernie Cook, Catherine Jackson, Graeme Richards and Bryan and Monica Charlton and Gordon Groube for the October rebait. Gordon did a big solo trip around the Triangle Circuit for the first time since winter. This included a rebait of the new 24's upstream from Triangle Hut.
.November (6S, 1W, 4R 1 possum) - NZDA Manawatu members took on November - thanks to Ian Rasmussen, Ian Patterson, Mark Jeffares, Paul Dekker and others for once again supporting this project. Some results still to come in!
December - thanks to Graeme R for rebaiting to IGH - for a total catch of 1 stoat!! I cleared 2 stoats (including the young stoat in the picture) and 3 rats from the start to Heritage .The very low catch number to IGH is unusual at this time of the year - If you know of anyone helpfully clearing the traps please ask them to record and pass on the catch data. Maybe the young stoats are late coming out of their nests this year.
December - thanks to Graeme R for rebaiting to IGH - for a total catch of 1 stoat!! I cleared 2 stoats (including the young stoat in the picture) and 3 rats from the start to Heritage .The very low catch number to IGH is unusual at this time of the year - If you know of anyone helpfully clearing the traps please ask them to record and pass on the catch data. Maybe the young stoats are late coming out of their nests this year.
Rangi - Deadmans
Steve and Mary Bielski continue to look after this line with help from anyone who offers to help out - thanks to Chris Tuffly and Elly Arnst and Hutt Valley Tramping Club for checking the traps recently . Catch numbers are low this season so far with only a few stoats and very few rats. If you would like to help out on this trap line please contact Steve on 3282841.
RWP Website and Facebook - don't forget to check out the RWP web site at www.ruahinewhioprotectors.com. Graham Peters has been working on this and you can see some more great videos made by Anthony Behrens in the Gallery section. Nancy Braithwaite keeps up the facebook page - please send her interesting things to share .
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