Stoat thought to be on Auckland’s Motutapu Island threatening native birds, lizards

Friday, 22 May 2020

Evidence of a stoat has been discovered on Motutapu Island for the first time since 2011.

A stoat has been spotted on an island in the Hauraki Gulf that was thought to have been pest-free.

Footprints were spotted by a ranger on Motutapu Island, located northeast of Auckland city, on May 20.

Stoats pose a significant risk to threatened native birds and lizards and the alert comes just a few weeks after a stoat was confirmed on the neighbouring Motukorea/Browns Island.

Department of Conservation (DOC) operations manager Katherine Lane said it is disappointing to find evidence of a threat to the pest-free status of the island.

Rangers identified footprints belonging to a stoat that puts the island's native lizards and birds at risk.

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Prints were located on the North West coast of the motu/island at Administration Bay.

“A full incursion response is underway with a network of traps baited with eggs and rabbit meat set to catch the stoat,” she said.

DOC has been working with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, the iwi of the area, through the lockdown on Motutapu to maintain island biosecurity.

Prints were located on the North West coast of the motu/island at Administration Bay, near the Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp.

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki leader Billy Brown said the protection and enhancement of the mauri of Motutapu is of critical importance to the iwi.

“How the stoat got here is speculation but this is a timely reminder, as we come out of Covid-19 lockdown, for people going back out on the water, to ensure that all boats, yachts and kayaks are pest-free when heading into the Hauraki Gulf, to maintain the pest-free status of or islands,” he said.

DOC works in partnership with iwi, Auckland Council and community groups to protect the 47 pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Motutapu has been pest free since 2011 and provides a safe haven for threatened and at-risk native wildlife including kiwi, takahē, tūturuatu/shoreplover, tīeke/saddleback, kākāriki/red-crowned parakeet, korimako/bellbird, and shore skink.