Collecting Pest Data
Making Pest Data Count
Why is it Important?
Collecting information about pest animals and plants is extremely important. Having accurate information on pest animals and pest weeds and pest control activity, has a number of benefits, including:
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learning more about these pest species
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knowing where to focus efforts
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more effective and efficient efforts to control pests
Ultimately, the more people who collect and report pest data, the more we can protect native species. By taking the time to add your data, you will help to restore the native ecosystems of Kaipātiki and New Zealand.
How Can I Help?
1. Pest Plants and Weeds: Reporting of location, status and control information
We recommend that you report invasive pest plants and keep control work updated using the EcoNet CAMS app outlined in this document: EcoNet CAMS Weed App.
Registering to use the EcoNet CAMS app helps coordinate weed control done by local community groups and also volunteers in groups such as STAMP. This document also tells you how to report weed growth and control even if you are not a CAMS user.
2. Pest Animals: Reporting of trapping, baiting, and pest monitoring
We recommend using the app Trap.NZ. Our entire local board area has been split into Halos and each has a Trap.NZ project so we can track progress in each part of Kaipātiki.
For residents trapping at home or reserve volunteers, we recommend:
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Register with Trap.nz at www.trap.nz/user/register (then look for a confirmation email).
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Download the Trap.NZ app and log in using your username and password.
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Join the PFK project (link opens document in a new window) most appropriate to you and wait to be accepted.
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Add your trap or bait station/s and start recording catches or bait take as they happen.
For detailed help in getting started with Trap.NZ, visit their help pages at help.trap.nz.
PFK have also produced a Trap.nz guide for the mobile app and a guide for the browser, e.g. from your laptop.
If you can’t or don't want to use an app, then use these forms and send in your results:
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For trapping: PFK Trapping Record Form (v1.3)
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For baiting: PFK Bait Station Record Form (v1.3)
Send to your coordinator or get in touch with Pest Free Kaipātiki.
3. Volunteer action: reporting of volunteering hours and activity types
You can record your group's projects and activities, the number of volunteers, the hours worked, the amount of rubbish and weeds removed, trees planted, etc. This data allows Pest Free Kaipātiki to track the work of volunteers in ecological halos in addition to a wide range of ecological and conservation work and events.
Volunteer numbers and hours worked can be recorded as a bulk figure or on an individual basis. If you want your pest control or restoration efforts to be added to your area’s volunteer tally, please send your volunteer hours with a date, area covered and a brief description to our team.
4. Ecological Monitoring
You can also add to our ongoing ecological monitoring project using iNaturalist. Full details can be found on our Citizen Science page.