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title: "Trapping introduced predators in the Northern Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head"
---

# Trapping introduced predators in the Northern Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head

Trapping of introduced predators takes place year round within the mainland breeding colony of [globally Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=30005) Northern Royal Albatrosses *Diomedea sanfordi* at [Taiaroa Head](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1307-acap-breeding-sites-no-6-taiaroa-head-pukekura-new-zealand-an-albatross-colony-on-the-mainland?highlight=WyJ0YWlhcm9hIiwidGFpYXJvYSdzIl0=) at the end of New Zealand's Otago Peninsula.  Since the start of the current breeding season on 1 October last year totals of 53 [rats](http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/rats/) *Rattus* sp., nine [Stoats](http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/stoats/) *Mustela erminea*, one [Ferret](http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/ferrets/) *M. putorius furo* and two [feral cats](http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/feral-cats/) *Felis catus*have been trapped.

 “We use kill traps baited with rabbit or hen’s eggs. There has been year-round trapping effort here since 1967 and seasonal trapping effort since the 1940s. This makes Taiaroa Head trapping one of the longest running trapping programmes in New Zealand” ([click here](https://www.facebook.com/albatrosscentre/?hc_ref=ARTgPSZ8Be_dkrUMvPcmL6sQi9cmgTP2fcarRsrIdyMORAAaydtlO2isTA_oJiSgrys&fref=nf)).

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/Northern Royal Albatross Taiaroa Head Junichi Sugushita  shrunk.jpg)

 A Northern Royal Albatross family at Taiaroa Head, photograph by Junichi Sugushita

 Unlike albatross breeding sites on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Taiaroa Head is not protected by a predator-proof fence. However, a fence does halt entry by humans, domestic dogs and [European Rabbits](http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/rabbits/) *Oryctolagus cuniculus*, although cats, Stoats, Ferrets and rats are able to climb over it.  As previously reported by *ACAP Latest News* a predator-proof fence would need to be 600-m long to extend across the neck of the headland and would have to have a self-closing gate allowing both vehicle and pedestrian access ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1359-predator-proof-fences-are-helping-to-protect-procellariiform-seabirds-including-acap-listed-albatrosses-and-petrels?highlight=WyJzYW5mb3JkaSIsImZlbmNlIiwiZmVuY2UncyJd)).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 05 April 2018*