The drive to rid Mount Maunganui and Mauao of pests such as rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels and possums, is being ramped up.

The Western Bay Wildlife Trust is taking its campaign onto the streets by inviting all residents and business owners to a meeting to learn how to control predators in their own backyard.

There will be demonstrations of different types of traps and discussions surrounding health and safety in pest control. Residents will have a chance to try each trap and see which best suits their household.

The information night will be held at the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Centre on the evening of Monday, December 11, at 7pm.

The effectiveness of household pest control lies in the statistics, because studies show if one of every five houses gets involved, then numbers can be reduced to low enough levels to allow native species to breed and increase in numbers.

'Western Bay Wildlife Trust's goal is to have at least one-in-five Mount houses actively controlling pests by the end of 2019, and at least two in every five houses by the end of 2020,” says the trust's pest control supervisor, Julia Graham.

Mount Maunganui is home to several species of at-risk and endangered species, such as little blue penguins, grey faced petrels, dotterels and reef herons. All are ground nesting and extremely vulnerable to predation.

'There's some pest control on Mauao, Moturiki and Mount Hopukiore, but there's a constant threat of reinvasion from the surrounding area,” adds Julia.

'It's our aim to eliminate that threat and create a pest-free environment for our local native wildlife species.”

Julia will speak at the meeting alongside Hamish Dean, land management officer from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. They will also answer questions and concerns.

'Mauao and the surrounding area is a unique place. We're so lucky to have a treasure trove of amazing species right here in our backyards.”

For further information, please email Western Bay Wildlife Trust at: info@westernbaywildlife.nz