Bay Harbour: March 22, 2023

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Bay Harbour News Wednesday March 22 2023
6
NEWS
TRACKERS: Karin Bos with her two detection dogs
Nightshade (left) and Terry.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
No more hedgehogs to
hound wildlife on spit
THE HEDGEHOG population
has been snuffed out in parts of
Kaitōrete spit using traps and
conservation dogs.
Pest Free Banks Peninsula
wanted to prove hedgehogs
could be removed from
Kaitōrete, near Birdlings Flat
along the southern edge of
Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.
Hedgehogs are indiscriminate
predators which are responsible
for the decline of many native
species. They kill ground
dwelling and nesting birds,
eating their eggs and young
chicks.
A three-step detection
method – including an array
of leghold traps, trail cameras
and conservation dogs like
three-and-a-half-year-old
border terrier Nightshade
(nicknamed Mobab) – were used
to prove the area was free of
hedgehogs.
Mabob and Terry, a 20-monthold
welsh springer spaniel
trained to track down feral
cats, live with Pest Free Banks
Peninsula dog handler Karin
Bos.
“Nightshade showed no
sign of hedgehogs within the
containment zone of 45ha on
any of the passes through the
site. With nothing in the leghold
lines either or showing up on
TRAINED: Nightshade takes a break from tracking
hedgehogs in Kaitorete.
cameras, we are confident there
are no remaining hedgehogs in
this area,” Bos said.
The area is home to many
at risk species, including the
banded dotterel, oystercatchers,
katipō, as well as skinks and
two species of flightless moth.
But it is also populated with
pests like hedgehogs, mustelids,
possums and feral cats.
An intensive trap network,
with a mix of live capture traps
and kill traps, were used to
target the hedgehogs.
Said Pest Free Banks
Peninsula senior team lead Tim
Sjoberg: “Dogs’ sense of smell is
so sensitive that the possibility of
the highly trained dog missing a
hedgehog on multiple passes are
remote.”
Weasels, stoats, ferrets,
possums and feral cats were also
targeted. The traps were initially
placed on the western end of
Kaitōrete and are moved east as
each area is cleared. A network
of traps and an active fence
system stop more pests from
entering the area.
“We’re using a mixture of
traditional methods and new
technology at this site,” Sjoberg
said.
City council regional parks
biodiversity team leader Alison
Evans said hedgehogs are often
overlooked as pests.
“They have detrimental
impacts on native biodiversity
in Aotearoa. They are
indiscriminate predators and
are responsible for population
declines of many native
species including lizards and
invertebrates. They are also a
problem for ground dwelling
and nesting birds, like the
pohowera/banded dotterel,
by eating the eggs and young
chicks,” Evans said.
Bid to turn wastewater plant site into reserve
• By Heidi Slade
A BID IS BEING made to turn
the site of a major wastewater
project into a historic reserve.
Suky Thompson, of the
Robinsons Bay Ratepayers
Association, said the community
wants to turn the old sawmill
site on Sawmill Rd into a full
historic reserve owned by the
community.
The site is split across two
properties containing various
archaeological sites. The
city council bought the site
containing the mill, ponds and
a tramway as part of the Akaroa
Wastewater Project.
The land on which the original
mill owners’ cottage is located
was gifted to the community.
The association also wants to
acquire the land that may not be
used for the project.
The resource consent will
determine how much of the land
is needed.
Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks
Peninsula Community Board
chair Reuben Davidson said
there is a lot of interest from
the community about the site’s
future. Robinsons Bay resident
Kathleen Reid is also lobbying
for how the land can be used.
“The idea of a community
garden appeals to me,’’ said Reid.
“All of our food is trucked in,
we need to pick up some of the
ways of the past and be more
resilient.”
Garry Brittenden from Akaroa
Area School has also expressed
interest in a potential garden.
He said it could be a way for
students to be involved in the
community while learning
new skills. Reid presented to
the community board this
month and Thompson did so in
December.
Thompson presented a plan
to the community board for a
comprehensive historic reserve,
owned by the community.
She said it would have cultural
and recreational benefits for
Robinsons Bay.
Reid said a community garden
would have benefits for residents
and the wider area. She said
a food forest or perhaps an
orchard could work around the
associated archaeological site.
“There’s room for both, I
believe.”
Said Davidson: “My hope is
that the community board can
work with all residents to create
a space for the community and
visitors to enjoy.”
Native trees will be planted
on the city council land, said
acting head of three waters
Brent Smith. The new treatment
plant will remove nutrients
and pathogens from the water,
so there are no odour issues or
other impacts, he said.
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