Whio in the southern Ruahine Range have benefited from years of volunteer predator control. Photo: Chris Tuffley

The social trappers

Conservation, Features

A long-time Wilderness contributor and freelance author, Kathy writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation.

By Kathy Ombler

Janet Wilson spearheads whio protection work in the Ruahine Range. She says community volunteer conservation has benefits wider than pest control, but she is worried about its future funding.

Janet Wilson was planning a trip to show me the whio protection project she’s been coordinating in the southern Ruahine Range for 14 years. “There are a few older women who like to come out,” she said. “I call them social trappers. I’ll get them to come up with us.” We were headed to Iron […]

About the author

Kathy Ombler

Freelance author Kathy Ombler mostly writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation, and has contributed to Wilderness for many years. She has also written and edited for other publications and websites, most recently Federated Mountain Club’s Backcountry, Forest & Bird, and the Backcountry Trust. Books she has authored include Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand, Walking Wellington and New Zealand National Parks and Other Wild Places. She is currently a trustee for Wellington’s Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.