Lewis Foulkes knows that predators damage our New Zealand bush and wildlife. Our city’s areas of bush can only benefit from becoming predator free! This is a goal that will allow our native bush, birds and insects a better chance to survive and thrive.
Lewis has walked the tracks on Parihaka for some years and has thought that the birdlife and bird song seemed a bit sparse on the largely populated tracks.
“I overheard work colleagues talking about controlling predators on Parihaka, so I asked how I could get involved and I’ve been a volunteer trapper ever since!
“I enjoy hiking, so to me volunteering my time to help clear traps and re-bait traps is an easy way to make a contribution to our community’s goal and vision to become predator free. It’s very satisfying to know that I’m having a positive impact. I know that being involved in a group is crucial as we can achieve so much more than any individual can alone.
“I look after a line of 13 stations in the bush that covers Parihaka. At each station, there is typically a rat trap, a possum trap and a rat bait station and once a month we clear the traps of any predators that have been caught and re-bait the traps and bait stations. It takes approximately two hours and I always feel much better for having done it!”
