Pest animals

Brush tailed possum
Trichosurus vulpecula

Brushtailed Possum

Feral cat
Felis catus

Feral Cat

Feral cats are defined as cats that are self-sustaining and require no input from humans or the domestic cat population. Have been in NZ since the arrival of the earliest European explorers, often used on ships to control rats. Not recorded as feral here until the mid-1800s. Now widely distributed, they live in a range of habitats including pasture, scrub, exotic and native forest. Have significant impacts on native birds, lizards and invertebrates.

ARC will provide information and advice on feral cat control and carry out site-led control of them as a component of integrated site-led pest management programmes.

Feral goat
Capra hircus

Feral Goat

First liberated in NZ by Captain Cook in the 1770s. Now widespread within the region, but most common in forest areas, poor pasture and scrubland. Goats are one of the most destructive animals in forests. As opportunistic browsers they destroy vegetation in the understorey (up to 2 m above ground) and, when combined with possum damage in the canopy, severe deterioration of native forest occurs.

ARC will carry out feral goat control in areas with significant ecological and conservation values, where the priority for their control exceeds or equals the priority for other animal control (e.g. Great Barrier Island and Hunua Ranges).

Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus occidentalis

Hedgehog

Grey-brown, nocturalin sectivores, with a pointed face and powerful forefeet. Their back and sides are completely covered with spines. They roll into a prickly ball when disturbed, or when hibernating. Originally brought from Britain in the late 1800s, garden pests like slugs and to control snails. Mainly insectivorous, but will eat plants, mice, birds, lizards, frogs, and the chicks and eggs of ground nesting birds. 

ARC will provide information and advice on hedgehog control and may carry out site-led control of them as a component of integrated site-led pest management programmes.

Imported to NZ from Europe, USA and Asia from the late 18th century for game parks. Also regularly released into the wild for recreational hunting. More recently deer have been farmed in the region. Deer browsing and bark stripping have a significant impact on natural areas. Feral animals can also act as vectors for Bovine Tb. Deer are defined as ‘wild animals' under the Wild Animal Control (WAC) Act, administered by DoC. ARC supports the DoC Wild Deer Control Programme for the Auckland Region. DoC has control over the farming of deer in the Region and has established three exclusion zones under the WAC Act.

ARC will carry out feral deer control in areas of high conservation value, where the priority for their control exceeds the priority for the control of other pests.

Fallow deer
Dama dama

Fallow Deer

Ferrets, stoats and weasels belong to a family of animals known as mustelids. All have a long body, short legs, pointed faces and five toes on each foot. They are carnivorous mammals, originally introduced to control rabbits. Mustelids have been linked to the decline and extinction of a number of native bird species. They feed on chicks, eggs and in some cases the adults of native bird species, native lizards, frogs and insects.

ARC will provide information and advice on mustelid control and carry out site-led control of them as a component of integrated site-led pest management programmes.

There are three species of rats declared as pests within the Auckland region. All are mainly noctural, and have significant impacts on native flora and fauna, in particular native birds, lizards, and invertebrates. They also eat large quantities of native seeds, from the ground or trees (particularly ship rats and kiore). This has serious implications for native regeneration in natural areas.

ARC will provide information and advice on rat control and carry out site-led control of them as a component of integrated site-led pest management programmes. Support will be given for the eradication of rats from islands in private ownership, where there are ecological values at risk, a high chance of success, and with commitment from all parties.

There are four species of wallaby present in the Auckland region, all of which occur on Kawau Island. All were introduced there in the 1870s by Sir George Grey. They have had a significant impact on the vegetation of Kawau, in some areas completely halting the regeneration of palatable native species and leaving the understorey bare. ARC, in conjunction with the Pohutukawa Trust, supports the eradication of wallabies from Kawau Island.

ARC will also respond to wallaby sightings outside of Kawau, Rangitoto, or Motutapu Islands.

Magpie
Gymnorhina spp.

magpie.jpg

There Two species were introduced from Australia in the 1860s to control insects, but soon proved to be aggressive colonists. Both species are black and white, with a distinctive call. They are widespread throughout the region, preferring grassland farming areas with tall shelterbelts. They also live on forest margins and in urban areas. Magpies are extremely territorial and show aggressive behaviour towards humans, especially children, during the nesting season. They also restrict native bird movement between forest patches, and compete with and displace native bird species.

ARC will provide information on magpie control, and provide traps on a hire basis.

Myna
Acridotheres tristis

Myna

Originally from India, introduced from Australian naturalised birds in the 1870s. Now found north of a line from Wanganui to Waipukarau, and are common throughout the Auckland region. Approx. 24 cm long, brown with black feathers on the forehead and crown with a distinctive yellow eye patch. Preferred habitats include parks, gardens, orchards, farmland and forest margins. Myna are territorial birds that show aggression to other birds in their territory. They evict other birds from their nests, and eat eggs, chicks, invertebrates and lizards.

ARC will provide information and advice on control of myna, and provide traps on a hire basis.

There are four species of wasp in the Auckland region declared as pests. Common and German wasps build extensive underground or protected nests, while paper wasps build smaller exposed cone-shaped nests above ground attached to trees, fences or buildings. Wasp numbers peak February - April, when they cause most problems. Their stings cause allergic reactions in some people, and disrupt work and recreational activities. They also rob native birds of nectar in beech forests. Although considered pests, they are also beneficial to the environment by controlling insects (e.g. flies, caterpillars, spiders) by preying on them.

ARC will provide information on wasp control techniques, and a referral service for wasp removal at the landowner's cost.

Asian paper wasp
Polistes chinensis

Asian Paper Wasp