Pekapeka-tou-roa are around
The Karioi Project completed its second Raglan-wide survey for pekapeka-tou-roa, the long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus), with support from the Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council and local ecologists.
Pekapeka-tou-roa are one of only two native terrestrial mammals still living in Aotearoa today (the other is the pekapeka-tou-poto or lesser short-tailed bat). Pekapeka-tou-roa are highly endangered, classed one level below extinct and have the same threatened status as the kākāpō!
Pekapeka-tou-roa roost in old, large trees, but they are thankfully less picky than many other endangered native species – they’ll use both native and exotic trees. Like all our endangered species, they are vulnerable to predation by introduced pests. Being nocturnal, bats are sensitive to artificial light and love to eat midges and mosquitoes. Despite their elusive lifestyle - we’re very lucky to be sharing Whāingaroa with such a rare taonga species!
The results of our second survey show that bats are active around the edges of Karioi and in surrounding rural and semi-rural areas including Te Uku, Upper Wainui Rd, Te Hutewai Rd, Maungatawhiri Rd, Houchen Rd, Toreparu wetland and south of Ruapuke.
Below are a few simple things you can do at home to support the pekapeka-tou-roa population in and around Whāingaroa:
Control introduced predators including rats, mustelids and possums;
Keep cats indoors at night, and add a bell to their collar;
Limit your light pollution – put security lights on a timer, make sure they are facing down, install baffles, and where possible use bulbs with a colour temperature of <3000K;
Plant and maintain your existing large trees; and
Encourage insects in your garden – many beautiful native insect-pollinated plants look great in the garden. Why not give yourself and the lawnmower a break and set aside part (or all) of your lawn for a meadow? See here for inspiration.
