Auckland's war on rats is looking positive, experts saySUPPLIED Rats are a major threat to Auckland's biodiversity because they eat birds, seeds, snails, lizards, fruit, weta, eggs, chicks, larvae and flowers. Progress is being made in Auckland's war on rats, experts say. Auckland Council biosecurity manager Phil Brown said alongside its eradication plan there were already about 900 community groups undertaking pest control across Auckland. With Auckland's mild climate, extensive coastline and abundant sources of food, rats were more prevalent than in many other regions across New Zealand, he said. "Although we've been fighting rats in urban areas for the longest time, this is one of the hardest habitats to control rats in," Russel said.

Source: Stuff December 06, 2017 00:56 UTC