Arawhata Aerial Possum Control Operation 2022

[jbnz]

This operation includes the Arawhata and Waitoto Rivers and may be of interest to your members.

The Department of Conservation, as part of its Tiakina Nga Manu and Save Our Iconic Kiwi programmes, is proposing to undertake control of rats, stoats and possums in the Arawhata and Haast Range areas. This control will be in the form of an aerial application of Sodium fluoroacetate [1080] in cereal pellet form to approximately 49,177 hectares encompassing Arawhata and Waitoto River catchments.

This area is considered as important for protection of Haast Tokoeka. Other threatened species within the forests are in some trouble, including the South Island kākā, rock wren, and Cascades forest gecko. Scarlet mistletoe is under browse threat from possums. This work will enhance populations of these threatened species by reducing rat, stoat and possum populations.

The Department has contracted Vector Control Services (VCS) to manage and undertake the planned operation. Notification is provided to all known landowners, concessionaires and affected parties from this work. Vector Control Services will be visiting affected landowners and neighbouring landowners over the next few months in order to explain the operation and gather information on matters such as water supplies, boundaries, and grazing areas.  After this consultation process is completed, operational plans will be finalised.

This operation is planned to occur between May and August 2022.

[Tony777]

The Arawhata has had so much 1080 chucked on it over the last 10yrs or so I?m surprised anything is alive in it!