Supporting communities taking Predator Free 2050 action

Vanessa is a self-confessed nature nerd with a soft spot for birds. She shares how her work supports communities striving towards the Predator Free 2050 goal. And she gives us three simple ways  everyone can pitch in for a predator free future.

Vanessa didn’t believe in epiphany moments until a tīeke (South Island saddleback) nesting on Ulva Island changed the trajectory of her entire career.

During a visit to this predator free island, Vanessa witnessed a  South Island saddleback collecting nest material to build its nest. Tīeke are extremely rare and are currently only found in predator free areas. They are extremely vulnerable to introduced mammalian predators, having been saved from extinction when rescued from rat-infested Big South Cape Island in 1964.

Experiencing the breathtaking wildlife on a predator free island is what inspired Vanessa to look for work protecting birds like these.

Vanessa works for the Department of Conservation’s Predator Free 2050 Team supporting communities. She explains the team like the web of a spider, connecting and supporting different groups working towards Predator Free 2050.

This web connects teams within DOC that are working on Predator Free 2050, external organisations, predator free experts, rangers and communities. Through this web, the team shares best-practice resources, training opportunities and hands-on support that helps build predator free knowledge and skills.

Vanessa shares three different ways people can join the Predator Free 2050 movement.

1) Learn best-practice trapping and give it a go

Vanessa encourages people to trap in their backyards or with their local community groups. The Predator Free 2050 Team creates best practice resources with a focus on humane trapping of predators. They developed the very first Practical Guide to Trapping in 2019 and have just published a third edition.

The best part about these trapping guides is that they are free to the public.

“It’s like having a ranger in your back pocket!” Vanessa beams, explaining that these trapping guides have all you need to know about target predators, monitoring, trapping, baits and lures, and recording your results.

Keen on trapping? Copies are now available on our website: Trap in your community: Predator Free 2050), or you can request a print copy from your local visitor centre.

For those wanting a little more practical experience, DOC and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) have partnered to create a 2-day workshop called Predator Trapping Methods. It is a popular course that teaches participants some basic trap skills, how to create your own predator control plan and how to set up a trap line. Participants can earn a NZQA micro-credential on passing the course.

“This course is beneficial for beginners to the seasoned trapper – everyone can keep up to date with best practices”.

The course is delivered nationwide. You can see when the next course is near you on the NMIT course webpage: PRT301 Predator Trapping Methods | Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

2) Volunteer for your local predator free group

Vanessa and the team’s projects aim to make involvement in the Predator Free movement more accessible. When something feels too challenging it’s easy to put it into the ‘too hard’ basket and forget about it. Vanessa’s goal is to make predator free work easy to support and deliver.

 “Communities play an unbelievably important role in the Predator Free 2050 movement. DOC recognises that we cannot do it all ourselves. We do not have the resources, time, or money.” She is thankful for the amazing community groups that have stepped up to protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s incredible wildlife from pests. “We can do this if we work collectively towards a Predator Free 2050”.

Vanessa wants people interested in Predator Free to know that it’s completely okay if trapping is not up their alley. She encourages people to approach their local community group because there are so many other ways to contribute.

Keen on taking Predator Free 2050 action? Reach out to your local community group by finding a group near you on this map.

3) Everyone can play a role

Vanessa emphasises that there’s a role everyone can play in the Predator Free movement. “Every person has a set of skills that could be useful to a community group.”

From trap box building, to monitoring, to creating education material to graphic design to writing grant proposals; Vanessa believes that every New Zealander has a skill they can contribute to the predator free movement.

If you marvel at tīeke and thriving wildlife like Vanessa, you too can find a way to be a part of your community’s Predator Free efforts.

Learn more about all the ways you can get involved in the Predator Free 2050 Movement by visiting Get involved in Predator Free 2050.