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Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Ferrets enlisted in Queenstown rabbit fight
By Katie Todd of RNZ A team of tamed ferrets has been making short work of a long-eared problem in the battle against Queenstown's rampant rabbit population. The mustelids are part of an unusual pest control operation run by Jim Curry and his partner Jacqui Elson, who believe the best way to fight an introduced pest is with another. Earlier this week, star ferret Oprah Winfrey took the lead to flush out a warren at a vacant property in Lower Shotover, as detection dogs waited at the ready to catch runaways. Curry said the premise was simple - fences up, ferret in and "hopefully we'll watch the fireworks as rabbits come flying out both sides". Over two days of methodical work, the ferrets managed to flush out more than 100 rabbits, which were quickly dispatched with a break of the neck. Elson said it was just another job in what had become a near non-stop string of requests since relocating their business 'Jim's Bunny Hunters' to Queenstown. She said they took on work across farms, lifestyle blocks and commercial sites, often booked by curious locals who had seen their rabbit-laden ute. "They'll stop and follow us into like petrol station or cafe or something, because they've seen what we've got on the ute. People will literally stalk you into a petrol station saying 'I saw your licence plate. We need you,'" she said. Curry said school pick-ups were especially time-consuming because of the ferrets' popularity - and trips around the country often garnered a lot of attention. "We're the only people licensed to transport ferrets all around New Zealand, between islands, which gets you some interesting look on the ferries," he said. A safer way to tackle the problem Each of the ferrets was caught from the wild, mostly by Curry. They could not be imported or bred because ferrets are classified as an "unwanted organism" under the Biosecurity Act. While Curry and Elson were not the only ferreters in the region, they had special MPI approval to keep more than the usual limit of three ferrets. Elson said the ferrets were highly effective hunters and were a safer alternative to poison. On a recent job, she said their results eclipsed those of professional shooters. "The commercial shooters were getting, I think they said about 900, 1000 in a year, and we got about that, including young ones, in three-and-a-half days," she said. "They were getting predominantly males, whereas because we're using the ferrets to get into the holes, we're getting predominantly females with young as well. So it's more efficient, makes a huge difference," she said. Elson said they made the most of each rabbit caught. "We can use an introduced pest, to then catch other introduced pests and then use the rabbits to give back to wildlife rescues for hawks and falcons, little owls, or other zoos. Whatever else isn't fed to our animals then goes to trapping programmes for wild cats, other ferrets, stoats, rats," she said. After each hunt, Elson and Curry filled in the rabbit holes to make sure the area was clear, then if any rabbits remained they would return under the cover of darkness for shooting. Curry said often the most challenging part of the operation was coaxing the ferrets back out, which were known to linger obstinately underground, despite wearing special tracking collars. "The stubborn ones can take a bit of work to get out," he said. A dream realised Ferrets have been a lifelong obsession for Curry, who grew up in the UK. "I'd been reading all the Farmer's Weekly magazines and various hunting magazines and books and things about ferreting for years. I always wanted to do it, but I didn't have the money or the knowledge or the land," he said. Seven years ago in Darfield, someone posted on Facebook about a chicken killer and Curry retrieved the culprit - a ferret he dubbed Colin Farrell. Two more followed and soon Curry was not just rescuing ferrets but putting them to work. "I just went 'right, sod this, I've always wanted to do it'. I ordered some trackers and then ordered purse nets from the UK. It basically started with me knocking on people's doors saying 'hi, I see you've got some rabbits. Can I come and catch them?'" he said. The pair began in Canterbury but Elson said it was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose to shift to rabbit-plagued Queenstown. Curry said the ferret flock had expanded to a star-studded line-up over time. "We have Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Jacinda Ardern, an R Kelly, a P Diddy and a Drake. And then we have a Joe Biden," he said. A persistent problem Otago Regional Council (ORC) considered rabbits one of the area's worst pests, posing a serious threat to the local biodiversity, the environment and economy. Southern Lakes Sanctuary chief executive Paul Kavanagh said they were known to let other predators thrive and tore up land and ate fertile grass, with 10 rabbits devouring the equivalent of one sheep's requirements. "In many of our ecosystems in central Otago, predator numbers are controlled by food availability. So where we get a lot of rabbits, we in turn get a lot of feral cats, stoats, ferrets, weasels," he said. He described the region's rabbit numbers as "relatively out of control". "Anecdotally, we've heard it's getting worse in some areas, especially Cromwell, places like that," he said. In 2023 the ORC discovered rabbit densities of up to 16 rabbits per square kilometre in some parts of Otago. The council said it was undertaking further rabbit night counts across the region and expected to have updated population estimates soon. Staff regularly carried out inspections across the region to identify rabbit hotspots and had helped to develop five "community rabbit management programmes" across the region, the council said. The ORC said it could help landowners tackle their rabbit problem but ultimately it was the landowners or occupiers responsibility to manage the problem.
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'Kamala' and 'Jacinda' enlisted in the war on rabbits
By Katie Todd of RNZ A team of tamed ferrets has been making short work of a long-eared problem in the battle against a rampant rabbit population. The mustelids are part of an unusual pest control operation run by Jim Curry and his partner Jacqui Elson, who believe the best way to fight an introduced pest is with another. Earlier this week, star ferret Oprah Winfrey took the lead to flush out a warren at a vacant property in Lower Shotover, Queenstown, as detection dogs waited at the ready to catch runaways. Curry said the premise was simple - fences up, ferret in and "hopefully we'll watch the fireworks as rabbits come flying out both sides". Over two days of methodical work, the ferrets managed to flush out more than 100 rabbits, which were quickly dispatched with a break of the neck. Elson said it was just another job in what had become a near non-stop string of requests since relocating their business 'Jim's Bunny Hunters' to Queenstown. She said they took on work across farms, lifestyle blocks and commercial sites, often booked by curious locals who had seen their rabbit-laden ute. "They'll stop and follow us into like petrol station or cafe or something, because they've seen what we've got on the ute. People will literally stalk you into a petrol station saying 'I saw your licence plate. We need you,'" she said. Curry said school pick-ups were especially time-consuming because of the ferrets' popularity - and trips around the country often garnered a lot of attention. "We're the only people licensed to transport ferrets all around New Zealand, between islands, which gets you some interesting look on the ferries," he said. A safer way to tackle the problem Each of the ferrets was caught from the wild, mostly by Curry. They could not be imported or bred because ferrets are classified as an "unwanted organism" under the Biosecurity Act. While Curry and Elson were not the only ferreters in the region, they had special MPI approval to keep more than the usual limit of three ferrets. Elson said the ferrets were highly effective hunters and were a safer alternative to poison. On a recent job, she said their results eclipsed those of professional shooters. "The commercial shooters were getting, I think they said about 900, 1000 in a year, and we got about that, including young ones, in three-and-a-half days," she said. "They were getting predominantly males, whereas because we're using the ferrets to get into the holes, we're getting predominantly females with young as well. So it's more efficient, makes a huge difference," she said. Elson said they made the most of each rabbit caught. "We can use an introduced pest, to then catch other introduced pests and then use the rabbits to give back to wildlife rescues for hawks and falcons, little owls, or other zoos. Whatever else isn't fed to our animals then goes to trapping programmes for wild cats, other ferrets, stoats, rats," she said. After each hunt, Elson and Curry filled in the rabbit holes to make sure the area was clear, then if any rabbits remained they would return under the cover of darkness for shooting. Curry said often the most challenging part of the operation was coaxing the ferrets back out, which were known to linger obstinately underground, despite wearing special tracking collars. "The stubborn ones can take a bit of work to get out," he said. A dream realised Ferrets have been a lifelong obsession for Curry, who grew up in the UK. "I'd been reading all the Farmer's Weekly magazines and various hunting magazines and books and things about ferreting for years. I always wanted to do it, but I didn't have the money or the knowledge or the land," he said. Seven years ago in Darfield, someone posted on Facebook about a chicken killer and Curry retrieved the culprit - a ferret he dubbed Colin Farrell. Two more followed and soon Curry was not just rescuing ferrets but putting them to work. "I just went 'right, sod this, I've always wanted to do it'. I ordered some trackers and then ordered purse nets from the UK. It basically started with me knocking on people's doors saying 'hi, I see you've got some rabbits. Can I come and catch them?'" he said. The pair began in Canterbury but Elson said it was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose to shift to rabbit-plagued Queenstown. Curry said the ferret flock had expanded to a star-studded line-up over time. "We have Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Jacinda Ardern, an R Kelly, a P Diddy and a Drake. And then we have a Joe Biden," he said. A persistent problem Otago Regional Council (ORC) considered rabbits one of the area's worst pests, posing a serious threat to the local biodiversity, the environment and economy. Southern Lakes Sanctuary chief executive Paul Kavanagh said they were known to let other predators thrive and tore up land and ate fertile grass, with 10 rabbits devouring the equivalent of one sheep's requirements. "In many of our ecosystems in central Otago, predator numbers are controlled by food availability. So where we get a lot of rabbits, we in turn get a lot of feral cats, stoats, ferrets, weasels," he said. He described the region's rabbit numbers as "relatively out of control". "Anecdotally, we've heard it's getting worse in some areas, especially Cromwell, places like that," he said. In 2023 the ORC discovered rabbit densities of up to 16 rabbits per square kilometre in some parts of Otago. The council said it was undertaking further rabbit night counts across the region and expected to have updated population estimates soon. Staff regularly carried out inspections across the region to identify rabbit hotspots and had helped to develop five "community rabbit management programmes" across the region, the council said. The ORC said it could help landowners tackle their rabbit problem but ultimately it was the landowners or occupiers responsibility to manage the problem.
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'Kamala Harris' and 'Jacinda Ardern' enlisted in war on rabbits
By Katie Todd of RNZ A team of tamed ferrets has been making short work of a long-eared problem in the battle against a rampant rabbit population. The mustelids are part of an unusual pest control operation run by Jim Curry and his partner Jacqui Elson, who believe the best way to fight an introduced pest is with another. Earlier this week, star ferret Oprah Winfrey took the lead to flush out a warren at a vacant property in Lower Shotover, Queenstown, as detection dogs waited at the ready to catch runaways. Curry said the premise was simple - fences up, ferret in and "hopefully we'll watch the fireworks as rabbits come flying out both sides". Over two days of methodical work, the ferrets managed to flush out more than 100 rabbits, which were quickly dispatched with a break of the neck. Elson said it was just another job in what had become a near non-stop string of requests since relocating their business 'Jim's Bunny Hunters' to Queenstown. She said they took on work across farms, lifestyle blocks and commercial sites, often booked by curious locals who had seen their rabbit-laden ute. "They'll stop and follow us into like petrol station or cafe or something, because they've seen what we've got on the ute. People will literally stalk you into a petrol station saying 'I saw your licence plate. We need you,'" she said. Curry said school pick-ups were especially time-consuming because of the ferrets' popularity - and trips around the country often garnered a lot of attention. "We're the only people licensed to transport ferrets all around New Zealand, between islands, which gets you some interesting look on the ferries," he said. A safer way to tackle the problem Each of the ferrets was caught from the wild, mostly by Curry. They could not be imported or bred because ferrets are classified as an "unwanted organism" under the Biosecurity Act. While Curry and Elson were not the only ferreters in the region, they had special MPI approval to keep more than the usual limit of three ferrets. Elson said the ferrets were highly effective hunters and were a safer alternative to poison. On a recent job, she said their results eclipsed those of professional shooters. "The commercial shooters were getting, I think they said about 900, 1000 in a year, and we got about that, including young ones, in three-and-a-half days," she said. "They were getting predominantly males, whereas because we're using the ferrets to get into the holes, we're getting predominantly females with young as well. So it's more efficient, makes a huge difference," she said. Elson said they made the most of each rabbit caught. "We can use an introduced pest, to then catch other introduced pests and then use the rabbits to give back to wildlife rescues for hawks and falcons, little owls, or other zoos. Whatever else isn't fed to our animals then goes to trapping programmes for wild cats, other ferrets, stoats, rats," she said. After each hunt, Elson and Curry filled in the rabbit holes to make sure the area was clear, then if any rabbits remained they would return under the cover of darkness for shooting. Curry said often the most challenging part of the operation was coaxing the ferrets back out, which were known to linger obstinately underground, despite wearing special tracking collars. "The stubborn ones can take a bit of work to get out," he said. A dream realised Ferrets have been a lifelong obsession for Curry, who grew up in the UK. "I'd been reading all the Farmer's Weekly magazines and various hunting magazines and books and things about ferreting for years. I always wanted to do it, but I didn't have the money or the knowledge or the land," he said. Seven years ago in Darfield, someone posted on Facebook about a chicken killer and Curry retrieved the culprit - a ferret he dubbed Colin Farrell. Two more followed and soon Curry was not just rescuing ferrets but putting them to work. "I just went 'right, sod this, I've always wanted to do it'. I ordered some trackers and then ordered purse nets from the UK. It basically started with me knocking on people's doors saying 'hi, I see you've got some rabbits. Can I come and catch them?'" he said. The pair began in Canterbury but Elson said it was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose to shift to rabbit-plagued Queenstown. Curry said the ferret flock had expanded to a star-studded line-up over time. "We have Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Jacinda Ardern, an R Kelly, a P Diddy and a Drake. And then we have a Joe Biden," he said. A persistent problem Otago Regional Council (ORC) considered rabbits one of the area's worst pests, posing a serious threat to the local biodiversity, the environment and economy. Southern Lakes Sanctuary chief executive Paul Kavanagh said they were known to let other predators thrive and tore up land and ate fertile grass, with 10 rabbits devouring the equivalent of one sheep's requirements. "In many of our ecosystems in central Otago, predator numbers are controlled by food availability. So where we get a lot of rabbits, we in turn get a lot of feral cats, stoats, ferrets, weasels," he said. He described the region's rabbit numbers as "relatively out of control". "Anecdotally, we've heard it's getting worse in some areas, especially Cromwell, places like that," he said. In 2023 the ORC discovered rabbit densities of up to 16 rabbits per square kilometre in some parts of Otago. The council said it was undertaking further rabbit night counts across the region and expected to have updated population estimates soon. Staff regularly carried out inspections across the region to identify rabbit hotspots and had helped to develop five "community rabbit management programmes" across the region, the council said. The ORC said it could help landowners tackle their rabbit problem but ultimately it was the landowners or occupiers responsibility to manage the problem.
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Applications Open For 2026 On Farm Support Science Scholarships
A scholarship programme run by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has started producing the next generation of on-farm advisers to support farmers and growers. Ffion White was one of the inaugural recipients of the On Farm Support Science Scholarship and is now an intern with Ballance Agri-Nutrients in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. 'I'm getting to work on-farm alongside Ballance's nutrient specialists. My role is about helping farmers improve their soil, grow better quality pasture and crops, and become more productive and profitable,' Ms White says. 'The scholarship was hugely beneficial. I had a mentor from MPI's On Farm Support team who invited me to industry field days and events. It helped me meet people in the sector which came in handy when I started looking for a job.' Ms White, who completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Massey University, is one of four scholarship recipients who have secured primary industry advisory roles. Another is Nerissa Edwards, who now works as a farm consultant with Feilding-based KS Agri. 'Every day is different. I find it hugely rewarding working with farmers to create individual plans to drive improvements in on-farm efficiency, profitability, and sustainability,' Ms Edwards says. 'The scholarship enabled me to build connections within the advisory sector. That led to a six-month internship with KS Agri and eventually a role as a consultant.' MPI launched the On Farm Support Science Scholarships in 2023. MPI's director of On Farm Support, Vanessa Winning, says applications are now open for next year's scholarships. 'Six scholarships, worth a total of $30,000, are on offer for the 2026 academic year to tertiary students enrolled in relevant agriculture, horticulture, science, or viticulture degrees,' Ms Winning says. 'We're seeking applications from students who have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in either the agriculture, horticulture, or viticulture advisory sector. Applicants must have completed their first year of study.' Ms Winning says there's strong demand for on-farm advice backed by science and analysis that can support producers to adapt and improve business performance. 'MPI is backing initiatives that support farmers and growers to sustainably boost productivity and profitability, helping to achieve the Government's goal of doubling the value of exports by 2034,' Ms Winning says. Applications for the scholarships close on 15 September 2025. Further information is available on MPI's website:
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Applications Open For 2026 On Farm Support Science Scholarships
Press Release – Ministry For Primary Industries MPI launched the On Farm Support Science Scholarships in 2023. MPIs director of On Farm Support, Vanessa Winning, says applications are now open for next years scholarships. A scholarship programme run by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has started producing the next generation of on-farm advisers to support farmers and growers. Ffion White was one of the inaugural recipients of the On Farm Support Science Scholarship and is now an intern with Ballance Agri-Nutrients in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. 'I'm getting to work on-farm alongside Ballance's nutrient specialists. My role is about helping farmers improve their soil, grow better quality pasture and crops, and become more productive and profitable,' Ms White says. 'The scholarship was hugely beneficial. I had a mentor from MPI's On Farm Support team who invited me to industry field days and events. It helped me meet people in the sector which came in handy when I started looking for a job.' Ms White, who completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Massey University, is one of four scholarship recipients who have secured primary industry advisory roles. Another is Nerissa Edwards, who now works as a farm consultant with Feilding-based KS Agri. 'Every day is different. I find it hugely rewarding working with farmers to create individual plans to drive improvements in on-farm efficiency, profitability, and sustainability,' Ms Edwards says. 'The scholarship enabled me to build connections within the advisory sector. That led to a six-month internship with KS Agri and eventually a role as a consultant.' MPI launched the On Farm Support Science Scholarships in 2023. MPI's director of On Farm Support, Vanessa Winning, says applications are now open for next year's scholarships. 'Six scholarships, worth a total of $30,000, are on offer for the 2026 academic year to tertiary students enrolled in relevant agriculture, horticulture, science, or viticulture degrees,' Ms Winning says. 'We're seeking applications from students who have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in either the agriculture, horticulture, or viticulture advisory sector. Applicants must have completed their first year of study.' Ms Winning says there's strong demand for on-farm advice backed by science and analysis that can support producers to adapt and improve business performance. 'MPI is backing initiatives that support farmers and growers to sustainably boost productivity and profitability, helping to achieve the Government's goal of doubling the value of exports by 2034,' Ms Winning says. Applications for the scholarships close on 15 September 2025. Further information is available on MPI's website:
