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Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Doc alarmed by discovery of dead stoat on Stewart Island/Rakiura
A dead stoat found in the middle of a Stewart Island/Rakiura track is concerning, Department of Conservation southern South Island director of operations Aaron Fleming says. A member of the public walking on the Rakiura Great Walk Track on July 12 reported the dead stoat to Doc, who retrieved it the next day. The stoat's skull was crushed, indicating it had died instantaneously from either a trap or similar blunt force prior to being found on the track. "Rakiura is known to be stoat free," Mr Fleming said. "The nearest stoat population is 30km across the Foveaux Strait. Their swimming range is 2km and they are not known to stow away on vessels. This stoat has died from a head injury then mysteriously turned up on a busy walking track." "We need to know if we are dealing with a new significant threat to Rakiura's native species, or if this stoat has been transported from elsewhere and planted deliberately. Both scenarios are disturbing. We are taking this seriously." The dead stoat has been sent to an expert to see what further information can be obtained. Samples are being sent for genetic testing to try to determine where it has come from. Doc is appealing to the public to come forward if they have any information about the dead stoat's origins. "It would have devastating implications for native wildlife if stoats were to take hold on Rakiura," Mr Fleming said. "In other places in New Zealand where there are stoats, kiwi chick survival can be as low as zero without sustained pest control. Imagine the damage stoats could do on Rakiura, which is known for its tokoeka or southern brown kiwi population." "If stoats were to establish on Rakiura they would threaten efforts to create a predator-free space for kākāpō to be returned, and they would quickly decimate other native species on the island." The Predator Free Rakiura project is working on the removal of Rakiura's existing pest species — rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs — in one of the largest and most complex predator eradication projects ever attempted on an inhabited island. Introducing pests such as stoats constitutes an offence in New Zealand, with serious consequences and penalties including imprisonment of up to five years and significant fines. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). — APL
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'Devastating implications': Dead stoat found on Stewart Is
Mystery surrounds the "concerning" discovery of a dead stoat with a crushed skull in the middle of a popular Rakiura/Stewart Island track. Stewart Island is known to be stoat-free with the nearest population of the predator 30kms across Foveaux Strait. The Department of Conservation says stoats can only swim 2km and they are not known to stow away on vessels. "This stoat has died from a head injury then mysteriously turned up on a busy walking track," Doc southern South Island operations director Aaron Fleming said. A member of the public walking on the Rakiura Great Walk Track reported the dead stoat on July 12. The stoat's skull was crushed indicating it had died instantaneously from either a trap or similar blunt force prior to being found on the track. "We need to know if we are dealing with a new significant threat to Rakiura's native species, or if this stoat has been transported from elsewhere and planted deliberately. Both scenarios are disturbing. We are taking this seriously," Mr Fleming said. The dead stoat has been sent to an expert to see what further information can be obtained. Samples are being sent for genetic testing to try to determine where it has come from. Mr Fleming said it would have "devastating implications" for native wildlife if stoats took hold on the island. "In other places in New Zealand where there are stoats, kiwi chick survival can be as low as zero without sustained pest control. Imagine the damage stoats could do on Rakiura, which is known for its tokoeka or southern brown kiwi population." "If stoats were to establish on Rakiura they would threaten efforts to create a predator-free space for kākāpō to be returned, and they would quickly decimate other native species on the island." The Predator Free Rakiura project is currently working on the removal of Rakiura's existing pest species – rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs – in one of the largest and most complex predator eradication projects ever attempted on an inhabited island. Introducing pests such as stoats constitutes an offence in New Zealand, with serious consequences and penalties including imprisonment of up to five years and significant fines. Anyone with information about the dead stoat's origins is encouraged to contact DOC 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
Scoop
a day ago
- General
- Scoop
Idea To Turn Public's Iconic Molesworth Station Into Pines Crazy
The suggestion that Molesworth Station could be turned into a giant pine monoculture is crazy says Alan Simmons of the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party. 'It's even more crazy coming from the Department of Conservation who have failed to control wilding pines on public lands it is entrusted by parliamentary law to manage,' said Alan Simmons. 'The option from DoC to hand it over to forestry interests to plant as one huge pine forest is appalling to many and sends a shudder through all those who love and appreciate our NZ back country environment.' Molesworth is such an iconic environment owned by the New Zealand public and valued for its vast wilderness landscape and currently run as a huge beef high country station. Well known outdoorsman Alan Simmons said DoC is completely out of touch with reality and to the contrary there is a strong case not to plant any more pine trees because of their detrimental effect on the environment. 'Pines are invasive, suck up huge quantities of water and deplete stream and river flows to the point of drying them up, poison the soil by turning it acidic, if and when harvested the slash waste is a huge problem for land owners downstream while clear felling results in heavy siltation of rivers and coastal waters such as the Marlborough Sounds.' He said economic benefits were marginal as most logs are exported raw overseas and imported back as processed timber. Pine forests provide no real work for New Zealanders apart from harvesting and resulted in depopulation of rural communities and closure of community infrastructure such as schools. Environmentally monocultures of pines resulted in considerable loss of biodiversity. Alan Simmons said perhaps DOC saw the concept of a giant pine forest in backcountry Marlborough as climate change mitigation. However the amount of grassland and native vegetation on Molesworth Station already contributes to any climate change goals. Besides the criteria of the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is flawed such as not considering vegetation under five metres height. "The thought of planting 446,705 acres or 700 square miles into pine forest turns my stomach" said Alan Simmons.'Molesworth needs to remain a vast wildness for future generations to enjoy. Our past experience with forests once owned by New Zealanders is that they end up overseas owned and we end up locked out. An example is Kaiangaroa Forest in the Central North Island or the many former State forests of the Hawkes Bay now overseas owned. " He predicted any attempt to turn Molesworth Station into a mega-pine forest will set off a public outcry equal to the Save Manapouri campaign of the 1970's.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
With just 30 creatures left in world, experts rush to save New Zealand species
New Zealand wildlife experts said the work to save the Alborn skink from extinction is now 'urgent,' as their population continues to shrink. A recent survey showed the world's last known population, initially believed to be between 40 and 100 individuals, is actually at just 30 individuals, according to a July 18 news release from the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Experts said a stainless steel mesh fence around a five-hectare area near Reefton will now 'be built earlier than planned to ensure the species' survival' after the 'worryingly low' survey results. 'We might be playing all our cards now, but we need to go all in to make sure these skinks survive,' Department of Conservation ranger supervisor Gemma Hunt said. As a precaution, some of the skinks were moved earlier in the year to 'safe housing' at the Auckland Zoo, experts said. Despite reducing the number of mice — a natural predator of the Alborn skink — in the region, they've continued to be a 'constant threat,' re-invading and preying on the species, experts said. New Zealand's winter weather is making it hard for conservationists to find the skinks. 'When it's cold, the skinks burrow into the ground to protect themselves from extreme low temperatures and move very little,' Hunt said, adding that this unfortunately 'makes them easy prey for mice who can access these same burrows.' Predator-free fenced enclosures have successfully helped other endangered species such as the Kapitia skink begin to rebound, Hunt said in the release. 'We know fenced enclosures work.' 'We're aiming to complete the $700,000 fence and remove predators by November and are optimistic that the remaining skinks should be able to breed quickly in relative safety,' Hunt said. New Zealand has 4,000 species, including the Alborn skink, at risk of extinction, according to the release. 'Once these species are gone from here, they are gone for good,' Hunt said. The enclosure will be built on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, the only known habitat of the Alborn skink.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Cat monitoring details shown
Rats, cats, possums, kiwi, tītī and white tail deer star in the first round of camera monitoring on Stewart Island. Details of the monitoring which took place during two weeks in May can be found on the Department of Conservation's Conservation blog website. About 300 trail cameras have been set up across 2300 hectares to record the presence of feral cats, rats and possums before, during and after the aerial 1080 poison operation. Last year the Department of Conservation announced a two-phase operation to drop 1080 bait to reduce the feral cat population endangering the Pukunui/Southern NZ dotterel. Phase one in about 6000 hectares of the island was completed earlier this month. The cameras are set up from sea level at Doughboy Bay to up and over the tops of the Tin Range where one of the last pukunui breeding grounds is. There are also cameras set up outside of the 1080 drop area to serve as a comparison. A lure, often containing rabbit meat, is set up in front of the trail cameras which are programmed to take bursts of photographs when they sense movement. On the blog it states the photographs show there are "lots of cats". The Otago Daily Times asked if Doc knew how many cats were in the area and could it be the cats were featuring in more than one camera and being counted twice or more. Doc Rakiura operations manager Jennifer Ross said the purpose of the monitoring was not count the number of pests. "Our aim is to measure the relative abundance of feral cats, rats and possums in the operational area before, during and after predator control. "This will help us to measure the results of the predator control operation." The results of the monitoring were what was expected and are similar to the non-drop area at Ruggedy Range, she said. Kiore, (Pacific rats) , Norway and ships rats feature in the photographs. Rakiura Tītī Islands administering body member Tāne Davis said kiore were smaller and less common than ship or Norway rats but they still had major impact on insects, land snails, lizards, bats and smaller land and seabirds. It is thought kiore arrived in New Zealand with the first Polynesians about 100 years ago, he said. While Ngāi Tahu acknowledged the cultural importance of kiore rats to some groups its position as kaitiaki or guardians was to eradicate them, he said. ZIP operations director Duncan Kay said Norway rats were a formidable predator. "They can grow much larger than kiore and ship rats — up to 25 cm, including the tail." They were also better swimmers and could easily swim 2km. "While they're not such good climbers as ship rats, they can still reach birds' nests above the ground."
