Predator Free NZ

Techniques/technologies

Identifying impediments to PF goals

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Achieving Predator Free 2050 goals will take more than just a scaling-up of eradication efforts according to researchers Duane Peltzer et al from Landcare Research (Lincoln) and the University of Canterbury. They look beyond economic and technological feasibility to identify the key impediments we … [Read more...] about Identifying impediments to PF goals

Māori Studies students surveyed on social acceptability of wasp control biotechnologies

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Wasps and new technologies to control and eradicate them was the focus of a recent study at Victoria University of Wellington, seeking Māori Studies students’ perspectives of the social acceptability of novel biotechnologies. Introduced accidentally in 1944 the German Wasp (Vespula germanica) is … [Read more...] about Māori Studies students surveyed on social acceptability of wasp control biotechnologies

National survey looks at ‘worldview’ and public attitudes to gene drive technologies

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What do you know about gene drive technology? How do you feel about it? Would knowing more make you feel more supportive of gene drive as a future means of eradication? DNA strand. These were some of the questions posed in a recent study looking at public opinion towards gene drive and how it … [Read more...] about National survey looks at ‘worldview’ and public attitudes to gene drive technologies

Native plants show potential as future rat toxins

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Tuhoe researchers recently joined other scientists in evaluating naturally occurring toxins in native plants. Could one of those toxins provide a culturally acceptable alternative to existing rodenticides? The results of their study have just been published in the New Zealand Journal of … [Read more...] about Native plants show potential as future rat toxins

Would summer eradication of rodents work for Auckland Island?

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Approximately one-third of New Zealand’s islands are now free of all invasive mammals. Could Auckland Island be next? Predator control and eradication operations are often carried out in winter – when predators are hungry and uptake of bait likely to be greater. But when it comes to … [Read more...] about Would summer eradication of rodents work for Auckland Island?

Dual 1080 application could be key to possum and rat eradication

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Dual 1080 operations - would two toxin applications a few weeks apart work better than one? Possibly, if a few other conditions are also met. Currently, aerial 1080 drops are used to control introduced predators, but not expected to totally eliminate them. Aerial 1080 application is used to knock … [Read more...] about Dual 1080 application could be key to possum and rat eradication

New toxin combination tested for rats and possums

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Up until the 1950s, most pest control toxins for vertebrates, including rats, were fast-acting. While a quick death for pests is a good thing humane-wise, the issue was, rats didn’t necessarily die. They’d try a little toxin, quickly feel the effects and sensibly refuse to have anything more to do … [Read more...] about New toxin combination tested for rats and possums

Citizen science monitoring method outlined and tested

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Monitoring wildlife population densities in our ‘mainland island’ fenced sanctuaries is an important part of measuring sanctuary success and assessing the longterm costs and benefits of predator-exclusion fencing. Such fences don’t come cheap, after all. What's the best way to monitor population … [Read more...] about Citizen science monitoring method outlined and tested

Review of conservation tools under development

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The Journal of Ornithology has just published a review of the conservation tools being developed for New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 eradication programme. The paper’s authors, Elaine Murphy (DOC and Zero Invasive Predators – ZIP), James Russell (ZIP and University of Auckland), Keith Broome (DOC), … [Read more...] about Review of conservation tools under development