20 April 2016

Pesky Pests go wild on Otago Peninsula.

Glenfalloch Garden is bracing itself for hard evidence of an infestation of pesky pests.

Tracking tunnels, bite stations and plant matter are lurking in the gardens ready for amateur detectives to findnext Friday.

“It is expected that our sleuths will find evidence of six dangerous pest animals and four serious invasive weeds” says Sophie Barker, Otago Peninsula Trust Marketing Manager. “We are providing a map and questions for our young detectives who will explore Glenfalloch in search of pests that affect our native wildlife and vegetation”

Otago Peninsula Trust has joined with the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group and the Department of Conservation to present the event “Pesky Pests at Glenfalloch” for the inaugural Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature. “All our partners are involved with caretaking Otago Peninsula, sharing messages about pests and getting people involved with nature. It’s a great partnership and we will definitely have some fun showing children what pests there are that threaten our wildlife” says Sophie.

Trust General Manager Robyn McDonald says “One of Otago Peninsula Trust’s focus areas is education and we think this is a fun way to get children learning about pests that threaten the natural environment. We are a founding partner of the Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature and are running six events for the festival”.

“As well as Pesky Pests, we have ‘Wild Green Ride”, bird spotting from our electric Green Bikes; the Tracking Blue Penguins Pukekura exhibit and talk at The Royal Albatross Centre, which explains the penguin tracking work for 2016 and how the public can get involved. We are also offering a half price family special for Blue Penguins Pukekura viewing and Albatross Express 30 minute tours at a third of the usual price”.

“We really want Dunedin people to engage with our unique wildlife and appreciate the incredible natural assets we have on Otago Peninsula. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from the city to the peninsula and it’s an amazing place to spend the day exploring – we have the world’s only mainland Royal Albatross Colony, the world’s only fully restored Armstrong Disappearing gun and the world’s smallest penguin just minutes from the central city. The Wild Dunedin festival is a great initiative to get people enjoying our environment”

ENDS

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