HARMFUL TRAIL-BLAZING

Evening Star, Issue 23189, 11 February 1939, Page 28

HARMFUL TRAIL-BLAZING

TRAPPERS AND TRAMPERS Field observers have reported to the Forest and Bird Protection Society that a very noticeable result of the closed season for opossums is the improved condition of the forest floor in areas formerly frequented by trappers. Captain E. V. Sanderson, president of the society, comments; “One is com polled to ask the question -Arc opossums or their trappers the more

harmful to the forest and its inhabitants? They tell us all about the weasels and rats trapped, but very very toi'o about the kiwi, weka, and other birds caught in places like Waikarciiioana. and the West Coast of the South Island. “ Certainly the supervision of trappers is exceedingly lax. Armed with slashers, these persons hack trees for the purpose of marking trap lines; and, in some places, under the impression that an unusual mark will attract the animals to the traps, they heavily score the base of the bole of a nearby tree. Thus suitable entry places are formed for fungoid and other destroying agents. The hark of a tree is its natural protection against such enemies. “ Trampers, too, delight in blazing the trail needlessly. The real, old-time bushman blazed a tree only at some very important turning point. But then he used his intelligence to find his way. In those days there were np moving pictures with a caste of townsmen dressed as bushmen. who wrongfully used tb° term ‘ blazing the trail ’ which, in America, means finding a now route.”