I’m really about 4 posts behind so you’ll need to bear with me if this jumps about a bit.
The news is all good. In fact it’s outstanding.
Traps:
We currently have orders out for 950 traps – about 6% of which will be targeted at mustelids, another 6% at possums and the balance at rats.
We are in the process of confirming an order with Tumu Timbers for the materials for the tunnels which we will start to prepare through mid to late August (see later in terms of volunteers).
Meetings
In the past week or so I have met with Napier City Council, DOC, HBRC, HB Biodiversity Foundation, Tumu Timbers, Cape Sanctuary and various Candidates for the forthcoming local body elections. Tomorrow I meet with Stuart Nash, MP for Napier.
All of these meetings have been incredibly supportive and encouraging and affirm that the time is right for significant change in the urban environments around Hawke’s Bay. This change fits perfectly within the picture for much of Urban New Zealand (see the hyperlinks below for a very recent story and an older one), and to be honest it is desperately needed.
Myths
As conversations develop on this topic I am constantly coming across myths that people establish for themselves.
Here is the number 1 myth:
“Oh I got rid of the rats, my cat “Biggles” is a great rat catcher we don’t have them anymore”
To which I respond – internally – “Bollocks!” and externally – “Well, I think you’ll find they are still about.”
I’m sure that a short way into this programme we will start reshaping people’s ideas on how many rats and other predators we have in our urban communities, but we all need to be aware that we have a lot of people in denial.
I ask anyone engaging with this programme to never give up – keep setting the traps, the rats will not go away – presently we can suppress them but we cannot eliminate them, and for everyone of us that knows rats are a problem, there is someone denying the same (and probably claiming the earth is flat too).
This recent article is well worth reading – both as encouragement and confirmation we are on the right path:
Launch – September 14th, 12- 4pm
After an initial scare that 14th September is Hastings Blossom festival parade, we have decided to go ahead and actually work that to our advantage.
DOC have been tremendously supportive in incorporating this into Conservation week and helping me bring all the pieces together.
We have the Soundshell booked from late morning and will start issuing traps and information at midday, with an official ‘opening’ at 2 pm. All going well there could be a sausage or two as well.
This means families can attend the blossom festival and swing by the Soundshell on the way home – our own sort of “trap”.
We plan to start more actively publicising this is a few weeks’ time, but please in the meantime don’t hold back on spreading the word about this programme and the launch on September 14th.
We will have a large number of traps and tunnels to be issued and hope to have all the key connected players and agencies available to talk about both this programme and biodiversity in general.
This is getting serious – I need Help!
Lastly, I have had a number of people connect with me and indicate they are willing to take traps etc. which is awesome, I’m hoping i can get traps and tunnels to these people by the first week in September.
What I need to do now is start bringing together a core group of people who can play a slightly bigger role.
If you think this is you please contact me directly richard@predatorfreeuhb.com
Details are yet to be finalised but this extra support will be something like:
- Help in cutting and assembling tunnels and traps for the launch – handymen/women – this is likely to take place on the last Sunday in August probably at Tumu site in Ahuriri.
- Become part of a core team which will maintain/reset the DOC200 mustelid traps and the Possum traps.
- Become part of a core team that will become certified in handling baits and assist on a weekly basis in rebaiting stations (probably a 5km walk for each person over varying terrain). This is not likely to be underway until late in the year.
Also I had approached two local web companies to help get this site up, but neither were interested, so if anyone knows of someone who could help I would appreciate it (just wanting to make it a bit slicker and promote sponsors supporters etc.) not a lot of time or effort required for someone who knows what they are doing.
Watch this space…
Also with the Help of the Hawke’s Bay Biodiversity Trust I have a submission in for $30,000 further funding which would make an enormous impact on the area we could cover.
I’m also hopeful that with a successful public launch we can get some key sponsors interested in supporting this cause. In the meantime if you or someone you know might be interested please get in touch.
That’s all for now, hopefully see you in September or before if you put your hand out for some extra activities!
Richard
..and lastly a link to another article outlining where all this began..
Where it all began – Kelvin Hastie
Predator Free Urban HB 