Mustelid Workshop

In August 2000 the Trust held a ‘Mustelid Workshop’ on the Otago Peninsula to discuss the many aspects of mustelid control, and share techniques and skills in the field. Attended by 75 people, the workshop was opened by the Minister of Conservation, Sandra Lee, who spoke of the urgent need to arrest the decline of our biodiversity and applauded the work of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust.

Topics and guest speakers included:

Mustelid biology

• Dr Justine Ragg, researcher
• Craig Gillies, Department of Conservation

Habitats and controlling predators

• Dr Hiltrun Ratz, researcher
• Peter Cook, Department of Conservation
• David McKay, farmer
• Dean Nelson, Department of Conservation
• Arnie Elbers, trapper
• Bourke Thomas, Southlight Wildlife
• Graeme Loh, Department of Conservation

Banks Peninsula habitat of white flippered penguin

• Francis Helps, landowner

Practical sessions on trap setting

• Bourke Thomas