New data shows New Plymouth's rat population is in decline while birdlife is on the increase.
Photo: 123RF
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki monitors rats annually at 100 locations across this city on a single night in April.
In 2018, 33 percent of the tracking tunnels contained rat footprint. This year that is down to 9.8 percent.
Manager Steve Ellis said that was due to the 7000 traps laid in the city's backyards and public places.
Meanwhile, a new Landcare Research bird count has found there's an increased probability of observing fantails, silvereyes, and grey warblers in New Plymouth, and evidence of an increase number of silvereyes.