Experimental Research.

The Pukawa Wildlife Trust is currently involved in experimental work thanks to the help of Dr Caroline King senior lecturer Waikato University. Dr King an expert in rodent behaviour was able to obtain a grant for a student to come and carry out some experimental work which we hope will result in us obtaining a better understanding of rat behaviour and so  increase our rat kills.
Don has settled into accomodation in Hauraki Terrace and is already setting out boxes and other equipment to aid his experiments, he can be recognised by the "Pukawa" cap he wears.
One of the aids are wax tags which are attached to trees or boxes, these will show any teeth marks. You may see these bright orange tags during your walks.
I hope to keep you informed over the next couple of months.
Did you know that it is quite likely we have bats in Pukawa, --watch this blog.

Erupting Mountain.

Steam can be seen rising out of Mount Tongariro which seems harmless enough but we have noticed a very fine layer of ash on the window stills and car. At first I thought this was pollen which can often be seen coming from the pine plantations on the hills beyond Turangi but when felt with  the fingers it is definately ash.

On Line Again

The sytem has defeated me for sometime but thanks to a young friend I hope to be back to keeping you informed.
The expected rain only produced a light shower so we continue to be dry and hot.
For the month of November we had 70 mls of rain while Taupo only had 19, so we can be thankful for small mercies.