Friends of the Blade target pests

Friends of the Blade whose mission it is to eliminate pests from the Whakamarama section of the Kaimai Forest Park.

The name may be reminiscent of some medieval sword-wielding society but in fact Friends of the Blade use more subtle means to defeat their foe – traps and bait.

The volunteers, committed to eliminating rats, mustelids (including stoats) and possum from 100 hectares of Kaimai Forest Park, now need more recruits to help with the task.

'We've had great success in killing rats and possums and helping the bird and insect life, but want to extend the area to 300 hectare, which means we need more volunteers,” says group co-ordinator Colin Hewens.

The programme is overseen by the Whakamarama Community Inc and Friends of the Blade takes its name from the clearing at the end of Whakamarama Road where for many years a big bulldozer blade stood, until someone removed it, probably to sell for scrap.

However, so well-known was the name among locals, trampers and hunters that it's stuck and has now been adopted by the pest control group.

In 2015, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council awarded a community grant to set up eight trap lines, around a 40-minute walkway that is also being formed, to give the public access to the bush.

The Department of Conservation has now given permission to extend the original 100 hectare area to 300 hectares and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has provided $5000 in finding which will enable another 13 trap lines to be created.

The total cost of the project will be more than $24,000, allowing a further 130 possum traps and 260 rat traps to be installed in a grind pattern over the next two years.

'Now all we need are more volunteers to join Friends of the Blade, and they don't have to live in the Whakamarama area,” says Colin.

The work is not arduous. It does involve learning to safely handle baits and kill traps, all of which are set high enough up so pigs and dogs can't reach them.

While the group normally meets once a fortnight to walk the lines, Colin says the arrangements are flexible and people can check and re-bait their lines at times which suit them.

Anyone interested in joining Friends of the Blade should call Colin on 022 315 5646.

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1 comment

Great work folks

Posted on 05-12-2017 11:25 | By Papamoaner

Very important work too. Thanks very much. We are lucky to have you.


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