Stuffed Stoat
The problem with invasive species in New Zealand is enormous. One reason there are so few bird species is that many of them have been wiped out by invasive predators, such as stoats, weasels, rats, and others. The only two native mammals in New Zealand are bats, who do no harm to birds. The Maoris brought over rats, mainly to eat, and the rats killed a lot of ground-feeding and ground-nesting birds who had never before encountered mammalian predators. The Europeans brought rabbits, also for food. The rabbits soon reached plague proportions, and to try to control them, the Europeans introduced stoats and weasels. Possums, who were introduced from Australia, eat huge amounts of foliage, thereby decreasing habitat for many nesting birds. They also eat eggs, chicks, and adult birds. Nelson Lakes, as well as many parks I visited, had traps for catching rats and other predatory invasive mammals. At the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary in Nelson, I saw a map that showed the locations of 300 traps and tunnels that were positioned to try to control predators. As a result of all the predators, many bird species have either gone extinct or are found only in predator-free areas, especially offshore islands where predators have been eliminated. New Zealand has vowed to be predator-free on its two main islands by 2050, but I doubt they will be able to achieve this. Still, they should be applauded for trying.
Stuffed Stoat
The problem with invasive species in New Zealand is enormous. One reason there are so few bird species is that many of them have been wiped out by invasive predators, such as stoats, weasels, rats, and others. The only two native mammals in New Zealand are bats, who do no harm to birds. The Maoris brought over rats, mainly to eat, and the rats killed a lot of ground-feeding and ground-nesting birds who had never before encountered mammalian predators. The Europeans brought rabbits, also for food. The rabbits soon reached plague proportions, and to try to control them, the Europeans introduced stoats and weasels. Possums, who were introduced from Australia, eat huge amounts of foliage, thereby decreasing habitat for many nesting birds. They also eat eggs, chicks, and adult birds. Nelson Lakes, as well as many parks I visited, had traps for catching rats and other predatory invasive mammals. At the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary in Nelson, I saw a map that showed the locations of 300 traps and tunnels that were positioned to try to control predators. As a result of all the predators, many bird species have either gone extinct or are found only in predator-free areas, especially offshore islands where predators have been eliminated. New Zealand has vowed to be predator-free on its two main islands by 2050, but I doubt they will be able to achieve this. Still, they should be applauded for trying.