Arthur's Pass overtaken by 'biggest mice plague in five years'

Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Mice are visible all over the Devils Punchbowl walking track in Arthur's Pass.

An infestation of mice in the mountain village of Arthur's Pass has been described as the worst rodent plague in at least five years.

Mice have surrounded the village, in the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth, after a widespread heavy beech tree mast earlier this year provided an abundance of food for mice and rats.

This supplied video outlines DOC's efforts to measure the long-term effects of 1080 in New Zealand. It claims bird numbers have doubled in one West Coast valley. (Video first published in January 2019)

Are you affected by the mouse plague? Email mariné.lourens@stuff.co.nz

'There are mice everywhere around the Arthur's Pass village and surrounding beech forest and walking tracks. There are also higher numbers of rats in Arthur's Pass than we'd normally see,' Department of Conservation (DOC) senior ranger Chris Stewart said.

The furry critters have bred throughout the winter and are now in high numbers in many beech forest areas.

Stoat traps used by the Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust. (File photo)

A mouse takes refuge in a discarded tramping boot in a council skip at Arthur's Pass. (File photo)

* Should mice be on the list of eradication for a Predator Free 2050?

* Mice plague sweeps Arthur's Pass**

A tussock mast has also provided extra food for rodents above the tree line, Stewart said.

'The plentiful rodents will in turn cause a spike in stoat numbers this summer. Rat and stoat plagues pose a serious risk to our native birds, bats and other wildlife.'

Stewart said visitors were asking DOC about the mice, but the department had not received any complaints.

Arthur's Pass Alpine Motel owner Pete Neale said the infestation was 'probably the worst we've had in years'. The mice tended to stay outdoors due to the abundant food supply, but sometimes got inside some of the older houses in the village, he said.

Local residents are using traps to protect their houses and buildings.

Arthur's Pass Village B&B co-owner Renée Habluetzel said the mice had mostly been seen in the national park rather in the village. People were worried about the effect the infestation would have on birdlife, she said.

Neale said the mice do not affect birds, but the increase of predators like rats and stoats were a problem. It was extremely difficult to capture stoats in traps when so much other food was available.

Ground nesting birds and their eggs are particularly vulnerable to predators, but tree nestors are also a target.

Neale said hundreds of traps had been set up to capture the rodents and there had been a significant increase in the amount of mice and other vermin being caught.

Stewart said DOC had a large scale predator control programme under way in Arthur's Pass National Park and other areas to protect native birds from predators such as rats and stoats.

'This includes aerial 1080 and trapping networks,' he said.

The Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust maintains 1236 traps in the national park.

'Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust works with the DOC to trap rats and stoats in valleys around Arthur's Pass that are not included in aerial 1080 operations,' Stewart said.

'An area within 15 kilometres of Arthur's Pass is excluded from aerial 1080 predator control due to risks to kea, which have become accustomed to scavenging food in this locality.'

Neale said he hoped the plague of mice would be temporary as a few days of heavy rain usually caused a significant drop in numbers.