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Stoatal Destruction

Wildlife scientists have discovered a new and very effective way of controlling stoats. A recent poisoning trial in beech forest near Maruia on the West Coast killed all 11 radio-collared stoats and one weasel within six to nine days of the poisoning operations.

The new method kills stoats indirectly, by first poisoning rats and mice which are then eaten by the stoats. Plagues of mice, rats and stoats occur after heavy beech seedfall years, and stoats kill many threatened species such as yellowheads, kiwi, kaka and kakariki. Along with ship rats, stoats are one of main predators of native birds in New Zealand forests.

"This new poisoning method is especially valuable because it kills both predators at the same time," says Nic Alterio, a scientist from Ecosystems Consultants conducting research for Timberlands West Coast.

This is the second successful trial using this poisoning method. The first trial killed all radio-collared stoats and ferrets, and two of three wild cats living around yellow-eyed penguin colonies on the Otago Peninsula.

"Our preliminary poisoning trials are very encouraging because they have succeeded in killing different predators in different habitats," says Alterio.

"Stoats are exceedingly difficult to control by trapping or direct poisoning, so this new indirect poisoning method could be an important breakthrough to help restore native wildlife populations throughout New Zealand."