The efforts and initiative of a volunteer organisation that goes above and beyond its call of duty have been praised for its recent award nomination by Waipā District Council.
About 50 volunteers from Predator Free Cambridge are involved in protecting indigenous birds and wildlife from invasive predators on Council land across the town.
The group was nominated for the 2022 Volunteering Waikato Team Excellence Award, which recognises the contribution and achievements of outstanding volunteers.
The group aids native fauna and flora by trapping stoats, rats, possums, and other pest species as possible in the area.
Waipā biodiversity planner Hilary Webb said the group’s work contributed to the national goal of eradicating animal pests by 2050.
“We fully support Predator Free Cambridge’s nomination for the Volunteering Waikato Team Excellence Award and are proud of this recognition of their work, which has made a noticeable difference to our unique native bird, bats and insect species.
“The team is also going above and beyond by assisting with the survey of long-tailed bats (pekapeka-tou-roa) in Cambridge. Both the trapping work and the survey will contribute to the protection of this critically threatened native mammal.”
The award recipients will be announced during National Volunteer Week (19-25 June).
Predator Free Cambridge community coordinator Karen Barlow said the main aim of the volunteers was not to kill animals but actually to protect native ones.
“However, in order to protect native animals, we end up having to remove the predators. I think that's quite a big distinction,” she said.
“Most of the volunteers have not got trapping experience. They're not killers, they are nature lovers, and they want to protect native species. So they have learned new skills and how to trap to protect native species.”
Barlow said the three main predators - rats, possums, and stoats - did the most damage and were the target species, but other predators like hedgehogs, ferrets, and weasels were also trapped.
“Eggs, chicks, and even some adult birds are eaten by predators. Invertebrates, lizards, and bats are also eaten There's scientific evidence of the devastation that these mammalian predators do. So that's not a new concept at all.”
PFC was formed in 2017 on the initiative of resident Adam Thompson.
The Cambridge operation is part of Predator Free 2050, a nationwide initiative by the Central Government and the Department of Conservation to eliminate introduced predators.
After Thompson funded the first trap meeting, it became quickly apparent that lots of people wanted to volunteer. This led to Barlow being recruited as the community coordinator.
The traps, which are contained in a box, are sold at the Cambridge i-Site and people in Cambridge are asked to keep track of their traps and catches using the free Trap.NZ app.
PFC volunteer trappers concentrate the bulk of their efforts along river margins and bush reserves around Cambridge, where predators tend to accumulate.
“We have a really good working relationship with Waipā. And they allow us to trap on Council land.
"We're doing the work for them and they're often providing the funding for it to happen.”
Barlow said the group was always looking for volunteers to help service a trap line for rats, stoats, and possums. People who are interested in volunteering can enquire via email karen@goeco.org.nz.
Neighbouring Predator Free Te Awamutu volunteer group is also looking for volunteers after it received a share of $50,000 funding on 11 April from Predator Free New Zealand to assist with trapping in and around Te Awamutu, Pirongia and Maungatautari. Volunteers can express their interest by heading to https://bit.ly/3xigpqN.
