An enthusiastic group of 10 Save Chamberlain supporters (both golfers and non-golfers) have started a Trapping Group with the long-term goal of making Chamberlain Park a pest-free golf course. Birdlife at Chamberlain is low compared to pest free golf courses around New Zealand and our aim is to experience the loud morning chorus that a green space the size of Chamberlain should be.  

Rats and Possums are our primary targets. Possums can apparently eat 3kg of vegetation each night. They decimate every level of the forest ecosystem. They strip and kill trees; predate the eggs and chicks of our native birds and they eat weta and other native insects.  Since trapping started just before Xmas, we have caught a total of 20 very large, well-fed possums - about two per week so far. Translates to a lot of saved vegetation, eggs and chicks!  

Ship and Norway rats and kiore have a major impact in New Zealand because they are omnivores – eating birds, seeds, snails, lizards, fruit, weta, eggs, chicks, larvae and flowers. The varied diet of rats also makes them competitors with native wildlife for food sources. 

There are numerous Ship and Norway rats observed around the waterways at Chamberlain and, as Ship rats are also good climbers, they can access many bird nests high in trees, eating the eggs. While they are very wary of new objects (like traps), we have so far killed 36 rats.

As the trap lines grow, we are looking for more volunteers to help check traps – aiming for a time commitment of once a month for 1 and ½ hours. Training with a buddy will be arranged. It’s a great way to meet some like-minded people who care for the future of our native vegetation, bird and wildlife at Chamberlain.

If interested, please leave a message below and we’ll contact you.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Louise Kane

Chair of Save Chamberlain Park