Tīeke population 'severely impacted' by stoats at pest-free Shakespear Regional Park

Caroline Williams Reporter from Rodney Times

Kia ora neighbours. Rangers fear stoats at Shakespear Regional Park may have had a severe impact on the pest-free sanctuary’s tīeke population.

The park, on Auckland’s Whangaparāoa Peninsula, is a sanctuary that provides wildlife, such as little spotted kiwi, robins, whiteheads, and hihi (stitchbird), with a safe and pest-free habitat.

However, a stoat was detected in the sanctuary at the end of 2020. It later gave birth, and two of its kits – a male and a female – were caught in traps.

Then, in January, thermal camera imaging suggested there were still stoats in the sanctuary, including the mother.

On Thursday, the council’s senior ranger at the sanctuary, Matt Maitland, said three more stoats had been captured, including two males and a female. It's believed one more stoat remains at large.

The sanctuary’s tīeke (North Island saddleback) population has been “severely impacted” by the stoat outbreak, Maitland said.

“This is the most significant excursion to date.”

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