A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.

A pair of teenagers got a surprise when a curious elk joined their backyard soccer game. The pair’s mum, Shira Moffatt, captured the scene as the elk excitedly nudged the ball back and forth with the teens for several minutes.

“Our kids were playing soccer and accidentally kicked the ball up the hill where the elk were,” Moffatt explained. “One of the elk got interested and started playing with them…We see elk quite a bit, but they have never played with us before. It was pretty incredible.”

The small satellite dish that fits in your backpack

Starlink’s new Mini satellite dish is the size of a thick laptop and integrates the Wi-Fi router inside the dish. Despite using less power than other Starlink terminals, it can still deliver speeds over 100Mbps.

“This product will change the world,” claimed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, saying it took less than five minutes to set up.

Carrying one in your backpack or on a bike touring trip means you can connect to the internet from anywhere on the planet. Great for emergency use but possibly the last thing you want if your idea of backpacking is to get off the grid and disconnect.

A Starlink support page says it’s currently available in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama. SpaceX says it’ll expand to more markets over time.

Hunt for rogue rat steps up on Motutapu

The joint Department of Conservation and Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki response began when a DOC ranger spotted a rat on the island in late April.

Based on camera footage, only one rat is suspected to be present, although there could be more. Additional tracking tunnels, cameras, and conservation dogs have been deployed, alongside baits in and around traps.

DOC Inner Hauraki Gulf Islands Operations Manager Kat Lane says it is crucial to keep Motutapu pest-free. “The island is of high conservation value, and is actively used for threatened species recovery programmes,” says Kat.

There is increasing urgency around the response, as sea and shore birds, including the tūturuatu and tūturiwhatu/NZ dotterel, will begin their nesting season in July.

While it is unknown how the rat arrived, Kat says Aucklanders play a major role in keeping the islands pest-free. “Boat owners can help keep islands pest-free by checking your vessel and gear for rats, mice, ants and skinks before departure. You can also set traps or bait stations on your vessel and in the area it is stored.”

Woman dies after falling while climbing Mount Ruapehu

The woman was among a group climbing near Whangaehu Hut, on the eastern side of the mountain, on Saturday. Police said the woman slipped and fell down a slope about 11am.

She fell “a significant distance, suffering serious injuries”, police said. “Emergency services, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, members of the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, and Tukino Ski Field staff, responded immediately. “Sadly, despite their best efforts, the woman died at the scene.”

Police said their thoughts were with the woman’s family and climbing companions. A rāhui was in place on the eastern slopes of the mountain above 2000 metres, until 6am Tuesday.

Sergeant Shane McNally called it a “tragic incident” and said, “While the matter is still under investigation, we cannot reiterate enough the importance of understanding the alpine environment and being prepared mentally and physically for this unforgiving environment.”

Hiker lost in California forest survived 10 days by drinking from his boot

Lukas McClish, 34, was rescued after wandering Big Basin Redwoods State Park for 10 days. He left home on the morning of June 11 for what he thought would be a short hike. “I didn’t bring anything because I thought I was doing a three-hour hike,” McClish told KSBW News.

But he got lost, and those three hours turned into 10 days. His family reported him missing five days in, prompting a hunt. Authorities used drones to locate him in a thick forest on Thursday after several witnesses reported hearing his pleas for help, the San Mateo County Fire Department said in a statement.

McClish told local media outlets that he made sure to keep drinking water. “So I kind of just hiked each day. I’d go up a canyon, down a canyon to the next waterfall and sit down by the waterfall and drink water out of my boot,” McClish told KSBW News, adding that he also foraged wild berries.