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A pest eradication programme on Kawau Island has resumed after the summer break.
Auckland Council advises that hunting efforts are being supported by the use 1080 cereal bait and cut foliage treated with 1080 gel.
A spokesperson says field camera network and drone survey data reveal that numbers of wallabies and possums in the southern part of the island are higher than previously anticipated.
The operation is predominantly a ground-based exercise, and is primarily being carried out by hunters using trained indicator dogs and thermal drones, but toxins (1080 and Feratox) are being used in areas where the monitoring network has revealed higher numbers.
The next treatment area for the toxins is located on private land in the southern sector of the island (excludes residential areas and Public Conservation Land) and will be fenced and monitored.
The project started in May and is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.
Important information
- 1080 is a toxin that can be deadly to people and dogs. Visitors and residents of Kawau Island must stay out of areas with toxic bait and avoid all contact with baits
- Anyone who consumes any of the toxic baits should call 111 immediately and contact the Poisons Centre for advice while waiting for emergency services
- Dogs are highly susceptible to 1080 poisoning if they consume baits or scavenge carcasses. To keep dogs safe, visitors should avoid taking dogs to the island during the operational period. Residents should keep dogs on a leash and closely supervised at all times, especially in the southern sector of the island
- Muzzles and emetic medication are available from Warkworth Vets for landowners and island residents, free of charge
- There will be a six-month caution period. Uneaten foliage bait will be removed within 14 days of deployment, and soluble cereal bait will readily breakdown. However, secondary poisoning remains a risk for dogs during the six-month caution period
- Signage will remain during this time, and all residents and visitors to the island must follow all instructions from council and its teams during this time
For more information on the Kawau Island restoration project, including FAQs and further factsheets, visit https://www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/get-involved/working-towards-a-pest-free-kawau-island/ or phone 09 301 0101. To support the project and ongoing conservation efforts, visit the New Zealand Nature Fund website.
