Gulf Journal
Predators in our midst
When I first started trapping I was amazed by the quantity of Possums I caught. I worked multiple trapping lines in the city that were surrounded by houses, roads and waterways. Where were the possums coming from?
There were two articles about local rat ‘attacks’ Rat chews ear of sleeping 9-year-old & School warns students over rats after teen bitten by dying rodent recently. And they got me thinking again… where do they come from? Do the rats really come from the bush like the article claims or are the rats just as dense in suburbia? And what of the possums? Maybe it’s time we put some tracking tunnels and wax tags up in our backyards because if we really want a Predator Free NZ we are going to have to start at home.
Freshwater Foundation
I am helping some awesome people setup the Freshwater Foundation.
Mangroves growing in tyre tracks
When clearing mangroves you will need to leave the surface very flat, they will settle in very small depressions.
Squandered
I was stoked to have helped design this eBook for Mike who is a kiwi ledgend.
BioBlitz
BioBlitz is awesome. I had a great time learning about fungus:
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342538
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342527
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342521
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342520
And had a great time exploring the bush at night:
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342536
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342534
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342531
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342530
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342529
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342516
http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1342515
Sunfed Meats
I just joined an ambitious startup Sunfed Meats that makes delicious protein from plants. This makes for a much more efficient food chain, we ensure the end product is not only tasty and healthy, but also treds lightly on the planet.
Australian droplet tunicate (Eudistoma elongatum) in Whangarei Harbour
So ugly, they look worse at low tide… sea snot. Amazing how dense the beds are given its only just been introduced to New Zealand. I guess we better get used to them.
Good Nature Traps
July 23 2014
Installed Good Nature A24 trap
August 6 2014
3 strikes recored no dead rats nearby
September 6 2014
5 strikes recorded no dead rats
November 5 2014
Replaced lure in trap
December 3 2014
Still says 5 strikes, replaced gas canister, tested (6 strikes)
December 10 2014
Gas canister says 7 strikes, no dead rat
December 17 2014
Gas canister says 9 strikes, still no dead rats
Early test correlates strikes more closely with canister replacement than lure replacement. Bodies may be removed by other predators, tho disposed bodies from other traps on this line tend to stay around. Strike counter checked weekly.
January 23 2015
Gas canister says 11 strikes, 1 dead rat!
19 September 2015
Reset lure and new canister 3 weeks ago, 3 recorded kills – two rats and one mouse body lying on the ground! So awesome.
13 November 2016
I have had a look at my last two seasons of data and the A24 trap is outperforming my victor rat traps at 4 kills to one just based on the body counts. If I counted strikes (assuming bodies were being removed) then it might be even eight times more effective.
Great product, definitely worth the extra money. Go buy one.
Two things about signs
