Possum control reaches millionth hectare

Possums are trending downwards across the Horizons Region as the Regional Council celebrates bringing one million hectares of land under sustainable possum control.

Initiated in 2006, Horizons’ possum control programme aims to bring all rateable land under sustainable possum control by 2017. This is approximately 1.5 million hectares.

It is the largest Council-led possum control programme in New Zealand.

Horizons manager biosecurity and habitat protection Bill Martyn says possums were first introduced for the fur trade but have since become the number one animal pest in the Horizons Region.

“Possums are incredibly destructive to our native environment and production. It’s estimated that 14-15 possums can eat the same amount of grass as one sheep. They can also be carriers of bovine tuberculosis,” he says.

“Based on possum monitoring and habitat information, it’s thought our Region has the capacity to carry about 4.1 million possums. In new areas of control we’ve seen a reduction in possum populations of around 75-80 per cent.”

The benefits of these lower numbers are being noted by landowners who have reported less crop damage and increased sightings of native birds.

Linton-based Barry Stevenson is one of these landowners. He describes Horizons’ programme as “a blessing to native birds”.

Mr Stevenson says he used to shoot 4-5 possums a night once or twice a week depending on the weather but recently noticed possum numbers have dropped off completely. Shortly after this change, he received a brochure explaining Horizons’ possum control programme.

“That explained why I was no longer seeing or having to shoot the pesky things and why the fruit trees have nectar and flowers and fruit for a positive change,” he says.

“The result this year has been that although there have been fewer nesting pairs the number of young tui that have hatched and learned to fly and feed has been several times greater than normal.”

This sentiment is echoed by Justin Vennell who runs a 489 hectare sheep, beef and forestry operation in the Rewa district, north of Feilding.

“Previously there were always plenty of possums around. If you sewed a crop in a paddock near one of the gorges on our property it would be quite well grazed from the gorge to the middle and they were eating quite a bit of grass as well,” Mr Vennell says.

“Now areas of native bush on our farm are looking healthier than they’ve ever looked before and you just don’t see a dead possum on the road anymore.

“All the contractors have been really good to deal with. They ask for permission, they check to see if you have any pets they need to be aware of or places you don’t want them to go and they close all the gates behind them.”

Horizons group manager environmental management Craig Mitchell says the feedback he’s received has all been really positive and it is rewarding nine years on to see such good results.

“Horizons’ current possum control programme came about in 2006 as TbFree NZ (formerly known as the Animal Health Board) began to scale back its operations in areas where it had been successful in reducing bovine tuberculosis. We didn’t want to see these areas go backwards in terms of possum numbers and we recognised a need within the community for greater Council support.

“Up until that point we had provided some support to landowners through self-help pest groups, particularly in the Tararua, but it was clear that an integrated programme was needed to truly address the large-scale issue.

“Now all that work is starting to pay off. It’s a real testament to our team and the wider community.”

Horizons’ work complements possum control on Crown land carried out by the Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board work to control bovine tuberculosis. More information about the possum control operation is available via Horizons’ website www.horizons.govt.nz

For a video on the project, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whi9XPmfa4M

ENDS

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