Island-hopping stoat: Fresh tracks detected on Motutapu and Rangitoto islands

Wednesday, 24 June 2020

DOC pest detection conservation dog handler Richard Johnston was reunited with his lost dog, Flint, and his partner Elizabeth MacDonald, after Flint went missing on Campbell Island last week.

Fresh stoat tracks have been detected on two pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf as a loose stoat continues to island hop.

Stoat footprints were spotted by a ranger on Motutapu Island on May 20, just a few weeks after a stoat was confirmed on the neighbouring Motukorea/Browns Island in mid-March.

The stoat had killed a kākāriki – a New Zealand parakeet – last month on Motutapu Island.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) disclosed on Wednesday fresh tracks had been detected on May 29 and June 16.

**READ MORE:

The stoat was spotted on Motatapu Island on May 20 - the first time since 2011.

* Stoat could be island hopping in Auckland's pest-free Hauraki Gulf

* Hunt for stoat on pest-free Hauraki Gulf islands continues as parakeet found dead

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

Evidence suggests the stoat spent several days around the original detection area at Administration Bay, near the Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp, moved to Rangitoto and then returned to Motutapu.

'It's likely to have swum from Motukorea Island.'

Although it had more than 350 traps in place over Rangitoto and Motutapu islands, DOC has deployed extra traps in certain areas known to have been visited by the stoat.

DOC is also are actively monitoring the 17 endangered shore plover which were present on Motutapu at the start of the incursion.

'No mortalities have been detected so far.'

'This serves as a reminder to the vulnerability of our predator-free islands and the ongoing work that is needed to retain the status quo.'