Media release
24 September 2012

Aerial possum control completed on the West Coast

The Animal Health Board (AHB) completed aerial possum control operations on the West Coast this year to protect cattle and deer herds from bovine tuberculosis (TB).

AHB Northern South Island Community Relations Advisor Imogen Squires said the operations began early July in the Grey and Westland districts, and have all been completed.

“Our contractors have done an excellent job of timing these operations to make the most of the fine weather,” said Ms Squires.

Aerial operations, using biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate (1080), support an extensive programme of ground-based control work which uses a combination of hand-laid toxins and traps. Possums remain the main carrier of TB in New Zealand and spread the disease to cattle and deer.

“Ground-based possum control is integral to the TBfree New Zealand programme and accounts for the majority of our work on the West Coast and throughout the rest of the country,” said Ms Squires.

“However, given the difficult terrain in some parts of the West Coast, the speed and accuracy of aerial control makes it essential in lowering possum numbers efficiently and cost-effectively.”

Following the operations, public tracks were checked, and water samples were taken as required by the local medical officer of health.

Water samples taken at the Hokitika township water intake following an aerial possum control operation this year all came back clear of 1080. The samples were extracted by an independent company and analysed by Landcare Research.

Warning signs were erected before the operation and will be regularly checked to ensure they remain in place. The public are urged to carefully follow the instructions on these signs, which have been placed at each major public access point to the operational areas.

It is the owner’s responsibility to keep their dog well away from any operational areas until all warning signs have been officially removed. However, the unlawful removal of these signs places pets at risk, with potentially devastating consequences.

“Public co-operation is essential to the TBfree New Zealand programme. I wish to thank landowners and the wider community for their ongoing support during and after the possum control operations,” said Ms Squires.

Annual ground-based possum control work, complemented by aerial operations, protects the $850 million a year pastoral production contributes to the West Coast economy. These operations also provide major spin-off benefits for the region’s native birds and forests.

-ends-

© Scoop Media