Hikaroroa Mt Watkin Winter Trapping Mission
Aroha Kaikorai Valley once again got the opportunity to hook up with our sister project, Hikaroroa Mt Watkin Conservation Project, and head out on a winter mission to service AT220 auto traps and a bunch of stoat and ferret traps.
The winter conditions added to the adventure and made it that much more challenging and fun!
AKV love the work that Jamie Hickling (Project Leader) and the team have been able to complete in conjunction with local landowners and stakeholders, creating a huge network of traps around the Hikaroroa Reserve on the surrounding farmland.
It is a big undertaking and not for the faint hearted with the terrain challenging in places.
AKV have now twice turned up to participate in this fantastic vision. In the process learning so much from the team. The team is a combination of professional conservation workers, volunteers or landowners making the knowledge base truly awesome. You can learn Latin botanical plant names, Te Reo, trapping techniques, riparian planting, farming, freshwater ecology and so much more all in one action packed weekend.
Typically, the mission runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Everyone assembles at the volunteer depot, areas are assigned and teams deployed according to experience. We work through the assigned trap line and then all move towards the accommodation for a shared meal, storytelling and a good night’s sleep.
Saturday is an early start with people moving out quickly on to the hills to get around the days lines. If there is time to spare some head off for a hunt, other retire to chill out or go for a walk.
We had all traps re-lured and fitted with new batteries by Saturday night so Sunday was a slower start, debrief, clean up and then we had time to go up on to the hill to look at the Alpine area, a combination of basalt rock columns strewn down the hill, tussocks and native plants. Those that were still keen braved the cold and climbed up to see the view from high on the side of Hikaroroa Mt Watkin. We were treated to the sight of ferret prints in the snow as well as the amazing view.
AKV thank the team for the opportunity and will keep growing our ninja trapping team so we can get out on more missions.
