Protecting her roses from possums sparked Nancy Gordon’s passion for backyard trapping at her New Plymouth home over forty years ago.
Urban trappers are supporting Towards Predator-Free Taranaki
Many rats and more than 80 possums later, ‘Trapper Nancy’, as she is affectionately known by her neighbours, is noticing the benefits for her garden – thriving avocados, fruit trees and abundant birdlife.
"We’ve planted lots of trees to attract birds, so we have Kērerū, Tūi, and fantail that follow us around the garden," she says of her property, in Merrilands, where she lives with her husband Bob.
Nancy and many New Plymouth urban residents are jumping on board the Towards Predator-Free Taranaki team, which is supporting Taranaki’s wildlife, native plants and healthy ecosystems. There are more than 1000 traps out in back yards around the region, with residents lining up to get involved.
Green-coloured ‘Towards Predator-Free Taranaki’ fence badges and stickers are popping up on letter boxes and fences along the streets in Nancys' community, following a recent Restore Merrilands urban trappers workshop. Taranaki Regional Council staff met with Merrilands residents to support them with the tools and knowledge to trap in their backyards.
Trap.NZ, the national database recording trapping data around the region, shows there are 23 traps and 53 predators that have been caught since June in the Merrilands area. Project participants are encouraged to record their trap and what they catch on Trap.NZ to show predator control progress and identify gaps in the trapping network.
The Gordons are the winners of Taranaki’s Trap NZ competition, winning a $100 Arborio meal voucher for having registered with Trap NZ and displaying their Towards Predator-Free Taranaki badge on their letterbox. These spot prize draws will be a regular occurrence, so make sure you get your badge or sticker on your fence/mailbox and traps registered on Trap.NZ.
Nancy encourages other residents thinking of trapping in their backyard to take the leap ‘Absolutely, especially if you notice your fruit or plants getting eaten!’
Want to get involved? Find out where to get your $10 trap and box on our website:https://www.trc.govt.nz/environment/working-together/pf-taranaki2050/