Latest news with #PredatorFreeRakiura
Otago Daily Times
22-07-2025
- 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
21-07-2025
- 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).
Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Pests curb deer repellent trial
Possums are interfering with a trial to find out if white-tail deer avoid bait laced with a deer repellent. The trial, taking place on Stewart Island, is designed by Manaaki Whenua — Landcare Research, which will analyse the data while Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) staff do the field work. Non-toxic cereal bait, with and without deer repellent, is being placed in front of trail cameras to observe how white-tail deer interact with it. The trial is being carried out on public conservation land at Halfmoon Bay. Last year, the Department of Conservation (Doc) announced plans to drop 1080 cereal bait to reduce the feral cat population endangering the southern New Zealand dotterel/pukunui on Stewart Island. About 43,000ha of Rakiura National Park will be poisoned between June and September. The park, including bookable hunting blocks, will remain open during the operation but bait laced with deer repellent will be used within bookable hunting blocks only. ZIP operations director Duncan Kay said progress in the trial had been slower than expected, due to the thriving population of possums on the island. "They seem to be faster at finding these baits than the deer, reducing our chances of recording deer interactions." The trial, requested by hunters, aimed to find out if deer repellent reduced the impact of aerial 1080 on Stewart Island's white-tail deer population, Mr Kay said. It would also show if adding deer repellent reduced the effectiveness of 1080 cereal bait on key target species such as ship rats, Norway rats and kiore. So far 20 deer had interacted with the bait and none had eaten it, Mr Kay said. "We need to record at least 100 interactions, where a white-tail deer approaches close enough to see and smell the bait, to form a statistically meaningful data set." The trial would continue until sufficient data was collected, which could take several more months, he said. A second trial would run during the aerial 1080 operation, when bait containing deer repellent would be dropped in the bookable hunting blocks. Deer repellent had been used in aerial operations elsewhere in New Zealand and had been shown to reduce impacts on deer species including red deer, he said. It is estimated the six-year Predator Free Rakiura project to eradicate pests will cost between $85 million to $90m. New Zealand Deerstalkers Association president Callum Sheridan said his group advocated for the use of deer repellent in all 1080 bait. "The excuse is there is not enough budget for it." Each year the association met groups, including Doc, which planned to use aerial 1080 poisoning to discuss where deer repellent would be included in bait drops. However, the area where deer repellent was used was very small compared with the total area where 1080 was dropped, he said. "You would think it was a public safety risk, especially in the areas where people are going to harvest game meat, that you would just put deer repellent in it as a matter of course because that's the intelligent thing to do."
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Pests impede deer repellent trial
Possums are interfering with a trial to find out if white-tail deer avoid bait laced with a deer repellent. The trial, taking place on Stewart Island, is designed by Manaaki Whenua — Landcare Research, which will analyse the data while Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) staff do the field work. Non-toxic cereal bait, with and without deer repellent, is being placed in front of trail cameras to observe how white-tailed deer interact with it. The trial is being carried out on public conservation land at Halfmoon Bay. Last year, the Department of Conservation (Doc) announced plans to drop 1080 cereal bait to reduce the feral cat population endangering the southern New Zealand dotterel/pukunui on Stewart Island. About 43,000ha of Rakiura National Park will be poisoned between June and September. The park, including bookable hunting blocks, will remain open during the operation but bait laced with deer repellent will be used within bookable hunting blocks only. ZIP operations director Duncan Kay said progress in the trial had been slower than expected, due to the thriving population of possums on the island. "They seem to be faster at finding these baits than the deer, reducing our chances of recording deer interactions." The trial, requested by hunters, aimed to find out if deer repellent reduced the impact of aerial 1080 on Stewart Island's white-tailed deer population, Mr Kay said. It would also show if adding deer repellent reduced the effectiveness of 1080 cereal bait on key target species such as ship rats, Norway rats and kiore. So far 20 deer had interacted with the bait and none had eaten it, Mr Kay said. "We need to record at least 100 interactions, where a white-tail deer approaches close enough to see and smell the bait, to form a statistically meaningful data set." The trial would continue until sufficient data was collected, which could take several more months, he said. A second trial would run during the aerial 1080 operation, when bait containing deer repellent would be dropped in the bookable hunting blocks. Deer repellent had been used in aerial operations elsewhere in New Zealand and had been shown to reduce impacts on deer species including red deer, he said. It is estimated the six-year Predator Free Rakiura project to eradicate pests will cost between $85 million-$90m. New Zealand Deerstalkers Association president Callum Sheridan said his group advocated for the use of deer repellent in all 1080 bait. "The excuse is there is not enough budget for it." Each year the association met groups, including Doc, which planned to use aerial 1080 poisoning to discuss where deer repellent would be included in bait drops. However, the area where deer repellent was used was very small compared with the total area where 1080 was dropped, he said. "You would think it was a public safety risk, especially in the areas where people are going to harvest game meat, that you would just put deer repellent in it as a matter of course because that's the intelligent thing to do."
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Planned Rakiura 1080 drop slammed
The planned 1080 poison drop over Stewart Island is an "ecological disaster that's waiting to happen", a tour operator says. Last year, the Department of Conservation (Doc) announced plans to drop 1080 cereal bait to reduce the feral cat population endangering the southern New Zealand dotterel. The bird population has declined in the past four years, despite trapping and other efforts to reduce cat numbers. Now there are about 105 birds left. The bait will kill rats and possums which the cats will feed on. The first phase is a trial to gain understanding for Predator Free Rakiura, and will take place in 7000ha area inside the 43,000ha area where the second phase of the bait drop will happen. About 108 tonnes of cereal bait containing 162kg of 1080 will be dropped. The bait pellets contain cereal, cinnamon or orange lure, sugar, green dye and small amounts of 1080 (0.15% per pellet). It will be spread at a rate equivalent to about four to eight pellets in a tennis-court-sized area. Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience owner Furnah Ahmad has been a tour operator on Stewart Island for the past 25 years. Ms Ahmad said 1080 was "harmful to everything that breathes air", and would adversely affect the island. "It is harmful to our wildlife and environment, it's harmful to human beings and it will have an impact on the livelihood and wellbeing of people in our community." New Zealand was known for its clean green image and attracted many visitors who did not want to walk "through a national park full of dead carcasses", unable to drink the groundwater and seeing animals sick or dying because of "horrendous poison", she said. Paterson Inlet was part marine reserve, a food gathering source and contained salmon and mussel farms that could be poisoned with 1080 that flowed down the waterways to it, Ms Ahmad said. The manufacturers of the poison recommended that all animals poisoned with 1080 should be buried, but this would not happen on the island. Doc director national programmes Ben Reddiex said Stewart Island was the last breeding site for pukunui, and the bird could be lost without urgent intervention. Aerial 1080 was the most effective tool to control predators including rats, possums and feral cats over large areas and in rugged terrain, Mr Reddiex said. Research showed biodegradable 1080 was safe and the Environmental Protection Agency approved the use of 1080. In 2011, the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment conducted a review of the use of 1080 and recommended it should be used more. Studies showed that 1080 has no detectable impact on invertebrate populations and did not affect native fish, including eels/tuna, or introduced trout, and freshwater crayfish/kōura. The poison broke down more slowly in dry and cold environments, but conditions on Stewart Island were like Fiordland where aerial 1080 was successfully used, he said. Doc staff would monitor the results of the bait drop to determine when no residue remained in carcasses and it was safe to resume activities in the area. Rakiura National Park, including bookable hunting blocks, will remain open during the operation. Doc would ensure people were well-informed about how to keep safe. In March, a trial was held to test bait laced with deer repellent, and bait with deer repellent will be used within bookable hunting blocks only. New Zealand Deerstalkers Association president Callum Sheridan said the group opposed the aerial dropping of 1080 as it indiscriminately killed not just game animals and impacted the environment. Even though 1080 was said to break down fast, recently he had seen undissolved pellets in snow grass near Murchison that had been dropped more than three months ago. The dosage in the pellets was not enough to kill a deer immediately. "It takes days for them to die and they are basically exploding from the inside out — it's quite a horrible way to go." He would not be keen to eat meat shot in an area where 1080 had been dropped, he said. He estimated the Stewart Island bait drop would cost about $80 million. The money might be better spent employing people to monitor bait stations and trap pests, he said.
