Major explosion in rodent numbers predicted after New Zealand's 'hottest summer on record'

April 23, 2018
A Victoria University rat trap.

Rat and mice numbers have increased after New Zealand's long and dry summer. 

The record breaking 'hottest summer on record', according to NIWA, allowed for a longer breeding season for the pests.

Female rats are capable of having five litters a year of up to 14 babies at a time.

Hoards of pests are expected to now head indoors to find food and warmth during the colder months.

Direct Pest Control owner Doug Morris told RNZ, "In the summer there's a lot of food around for the seeds and that type of thing - in the winter there's not so much food around for them."

The increase in hungry rodents are set to create carnage for native birds, geckos and plants.

Department of Conservation scientist, Graeme Elliot says despite the increase, it isn't the end of New Zealand's Predator Free aspirations.

"The Predator Free goal is not something that we were going to achieve next year anyway, so if next year happens to be a particularly bad year for rats in some parts of the country, well I don't really think that sets us back much at all" Mr Elliot told RNZ.

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