NZ's War on Rats, Weasels, Invasive Predators!!

From the Washington Post today, they have this headline: "New Zealand vows to kill every weasel, rat and feral cat on its soil".

Here are some of the story highlights: "New Zealand is a nation that takes its birds seriously, and it’s got very special ones. The country’s currency is adorned with images of winged species found nowhere else. The logo of the national air force is stamped with the famed kiwi. But many of those birds and other native wildlife are under assault from species that showed up with settlers to the island nation 200 years ago. On Monday, Prime Minister John Key announced that, generations after they came, the invaders would have to go. New Zealand has adopted the 'ambitious goal' of eradicating its soil of rats, possums, stoats and all other invasive mammals by 2050."

When in wonderful New Zealand, we clearly sense that this nation was worried and on-guard for invasive predators. They view that these foreign creatures have "surpassed poaching and deforestation as the biggest threat to New Zealand’s wildlife". This article has these added details and background: "New Zealand already spends about $40 million a year on invasive species eradication programs, and it’s cleared more than one-third of its 220 islands of predators. But Key suggested Monday that the traps, airdropped poison and fencing already in use haven’t been cutting it. He said $2.3 billion had been devoted to the new plan, some of which would go to a new public-private partnership that would come up with new technologies to defeat the enemies."

There is more in this highly-detailed story about how there are challenges as to how NZ people do not like the use of rat poisons to deal with this challenge, nor efforts to limit the numbers of cats.

Full story at:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/07/25/new-zealand-plans-to-kill-every-weasel-rat-and-feral-cat-on-its-soil/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories-2_animalia-newzealand-240pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 150,479 views for this posting.

Highly recommend knitwear from NZ made from possum blends. It is so light and warm. You can also feel fine about wearing it as they are pests. Here they are protected and love to play on our roof at about 3am.

Highly recommend knitwear from NZ made from possum blends. It is so light and warm. You can also feel fine about wearing it as they are pests. Here they are protected and love to play on our roof at about 3am.

Mrs Gut has a few possum/wool blend items, loves them on the cold mornings.

I once read that while feral cats do eat birds that the birds they eat are the old and unhealthy ones, not young and healthy.

Don't like killing kitty.

This story gives me a little opportunity to mention Zealandia in Wellington, the location for this news release. It's a large valley just 10 minutes from downtown Wellington and thanks to a ground-breaking fence has been predator free for 17 years or more. After one visit, even non-experts can quickly discern the difference between a pristine landscape and one that has possums, stoats and feral cats. I know most visitors to New Zealand are drawn by the landscape and scenery - a visit to Zealandia is a great way to understand why the country had no mammals, only birds, and why introduced species have wrought such havoc on our environment.

As I live nearby and get the joy of the burgeoning wildlife, I can also appreciate the damage that one feral cat would do to the two endangered takahe birds living at Zealandia. Thought extinct in 1898, there are now around 260 birds total in New Zealand, living in conservation areas like Zealandia. For an even more charming bird, check out the kakapo parrot. No-one likes killing kitty, but introduced species have caused the extinction of many native species here. As we were the last major land mass to be discovered, we're in a unique position to address some of the damage too and that journey is explained really well at Zealandia.

I once read that while feral cats do eat birds that the birds they eat are the old and unhealthy ones, not young and healthy.

 

Don't like killing kitty.

..probably because the young and healthy ones can fly away.