The Eastern Bays Songbird Project has been carrying out pest monitoring focusing on hedgehogs, mice, rats, possums and mustelids since 2021. This pest monitoring program runs twice a year at fixed locations, over 11 monitoring lines, using tracking tunnels, chew cards and wax tags.  

The results show that rats have consistently been the dominant pest species in the project zone over the five‑year period, with their tracking index remaining higher than all other pests and rising sharply again by May 2026. Mice and hedgehogs fluctuate at moderate levels, with mice also showing a noticeable increase in the last monitoring round. Possums remain very low throughout, indicating good control. Overall, the data suggest that while some pest species are being effectively managed, rat numbers in particular continue to rebound and require ongoing, targeted control to prevent impacts on native wildlife.