UNWANTED PESTS

By: Merlyn Jeejo

Stoats
The stoat is a member of the mustelid family, along with weasels and ferrets. It was introduced to New Zealand in the 1880s to control rabbits and hares. Stoats are now considered "public enemy number one" for New Zealand birds. Why were they brought to/how they arrived in NZ? Stoats were introduced were introduced into New Zealand to control rabbits and hares, but are now a major threat to the native bird population. Rabbits were introduced as a food and game animal by European settlers and by the 1870s, Methods of control Traps/Solutions: To get rid of stoats or stop them there are powerful and effective kill traps.

Ferrets
Ferrets were introduced to New Zealand from Europe in the 1880s, along with stoats and weasels, to control rabbits that were breeding out of control. Why were they brought to/how they arrived in NZ? Ferrets are not as widespread as stoats. However, ferrets have a significant effect on many riverbed breeding birds e.g.. black stilt, dotterel species and pied oystercatcher. Threatened giant weta make a tasty snack, and geckos and skinks are not immune from the dangers ferrets pose. Species found in the same areas as rabbits are more at risk than others. For example, the black stilt in the rabbitprone Mackenzie Basin and the New Zealand dotterel on the Coromandel's coastal dunes. However, kiwi are particularly at risk where they share their forest home with ferrets that specialise on rats and mice rather than rabbits. These ferrets are more likely to supplement their rodent diet with kiwi. Ferrets were brought over in NZ to control the rabbits. SOLUTIONS: A few solutions for ferrets are that you can try to tame them. You can always ask the people who you got the ferrets from for more info. You can try to stop them from eating other native species. Taming them is probably the best idea.

A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi(and introduced to New Zealand and China). Possums are quadruped diprotodont marsupials with long thick tails. The smallest possum, indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial, is the Little Pygmy Possum with an adult head-body length of 70mm and a weight of 10g. The largest is the Bear Cuscus that may exceed 7 kg. Possums are typically nocaturnal and at least partially arboreal. The brush ail possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) was first brought to NZ from Australia in 1837 with the intention of establishing a fur industry. This proved unsuccessful and possums were allowed to spread throughout the country destroying native bush and having a devastating effect on native wildlife. There are estimated 65-70 million possums in New Zealand and possum control is a never-ending and possibly unwinnable battle. Possum is now considered a green fur, that is, a fur that is good for the environment because the animal it comes from is such a destructive pest. Possum Control Methods: Poisoning this is the most effective way of controlling possums over a large area, there are a number of bait and toxin choices, and pros and cons of using each of these Bait stations are used to keep bait dry and away from other animals and humans. Bait stations need to be regularly monitored to ensure that the possum control is going to plan. Trapping this is a common method of controlling possums. There are several different types of traps that are used in possum control. The three most common possum control traps are the live capture trap, the leg hold trap and kill traps such as the Timms and Sentinel traps. Trapping can be used when it is inappropriate to use poisons. Shooting is effective but a very labour intensive possum control method, however it is Effective in smaller open areas such as orchards and areas of pasture. Quick, effective and humane. However it is uneconomic for larger areas as the sole method of control due to high labour costs. Possums become gun-shy and will hide away from shooters.

Possum

Rats
Rats are introduced pests which threaten the long-term survival of native species. They include the kiore (Pacific rat), ship rat (Black rat) and Norway rat. Kiore, introduced by early Maori voyagers, predate rare weta, snails, frogs, lizards, tuatara, birds and bats, as well as other insects and the flowers, fruits and seeds of plants. Ship rats and Norway rats also eat any small animals and plant material, including the adults, eggs and chicks of many rare birds.

THE THREATS OF RATS Rats have a major impact on New Zealands wildlife because they eat birds and their eggs and chicks, lizards, and invertebrates. They also eat a wide range of native fruits and other plant material, which puts them in competition with native wildlife for food. Ship rats are causing the most damage to our wildlife because they are good climbers, so they are able to get access to most bird nests high in trees. Norway rats are large enough to kill nesting adult seabirds and prey on animals that live, roost or nest close to the ground. Kiore eat a wide range of foods, including seeds, fruits, lizards, insects, eggs and chicks.

Feral Cats
A feral cat is a descendant of a domestic cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild. The offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild.

 Dogs

 Rabbits

 Feral Goat

 Hedgehogs

 Rainbow Lorikeet

 Tahr

 Weasels