Help return Rotokare to mouse free status.

Rodents are on the move as the weather cools, increasing the risk of mice sneaking into the sanctuary. In April mouse prints were detected in the north of the sanctuary. While we have had occasional invaders near the carpark, this time we have a bigger problem on our hands, with mouse prints being found in the forest for the first time since the major mouse invasion in 2016. Response actions were deployed immediately to find and remove these mice from the sanctuary.

Finding a mouse within a 230ha forest is a tricky task. One of our key detection tools are inked tracking cards, baited with food to attract animals onto the ink, leaving their footprints as they leave, letting us see who is living where. Once detected we can target trapping around places prints are found for a more successful outcome.

A huge amount of effort has already gone into this initial response. We are grateful for the support of our volunteers, other conservation groups, and our community in delivering this hard but important work. While detections are decreasing, there are weeks of trapping and monitoring ahead to get us back to zero mice.

Your donation will help cover response costs including tracking cards, pest detection dogs, bait, and traps. Each cards costs $1.76, and we will need over 2000, in the next three weeks alone!

Mice can have a big impact on vulnerable native species and damage the health of our forests. We’re determined to rid Rotokare of mice once again.

Thanks for your support.