Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Continued Vigilance Urged As Poisoned Possums Found

Recent discoveries by Greater Wellington staff of possum carcasses contaminated by 1080 in popular dog walking areas along key waterways and beach areas has led to renewed calls by the regional council for dog owners to take utmost care of their pets.

“We’re urging people to keep their dogs away from the Hutt River and Wellington Harbour beaches while staff continue to check these areas for dead possums and other pests poisoned with 1080.

“Recent heavy rain has seen a number of contaminated dead possums washed up along the Hutt River and eastern harbour beaches,” says Greater Wellington Biosecurity Manager Richard Romijn.

“Despite the threat posed by contaminated carcasses, many dog owners seem to letting their guard down, allowing their dogs to roam off lead and scavenge in areas that could result in a tragedy.”

The carcasses arise from a 1080-based possum control operation on Friday 27 May 2022 in the Kaitoke Regional Park and the Hutt Water Collection Area.

Greater Wellington has erected warning signs and continues to check river and harbour beaches from Te Mārua to Pencarrow.

While contaminated possum carcasses aren’t a threat to people, they are poisonous to dogs.

“Particularly given we’re finding carcasses – and there may be many more we haven’t - we urge dog owners to avoid all eastern harbour beaches from Petone to Pencarrow, and the Hutt riverside,” says Richard Romijn.

“If you must walk in these areas, keep your animals close on a lead and not allow them to scavenge, until warning signs have been taken down”.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Warnings to dog owners could be in place for up to four months, depending on how long it takes for the possum carcasses to breakdown.

If dogs have any contact with a dead possum, owners should get their dog to a vet immediately.

For more information on this proposed operation and the precautions you can take to ensure safety for you and your pets, visit our 1080 page.

Get to know the facts at 1080facts.co.nz

More information on dogs and 1080: https://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/2021/11/J001346-1080-and-dogs-fact-sheet.pdf

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.