Vector Control Services

Aerial Control Operations

Karamea Aerial Possum Control 2023 Update

The toxic application was completed on the 21st and 22nd of August.

Warning signs will be installed at public entry points and throughout the area. Possum carcass and bait monitoring will occur to determine when the area is toxic free. Please treat the area with caution until monitoring results have determined there is no further risk and all warning signs have been removed.

Karamea Aerial Possum Control 2023

OSPRI as part of its TB eradication programme are proposing to undertake control of possums in the Karamea area. This control will be in the form of an aerial application of Sodium fluoroacetate [1080] in cereal pellet form to approximately 29, 000 hectares from Ngakawau Gorge in the south to Kohaihai River to the north. OSPRI has contracted Vector Control Services (VCS) to manage and undertake the planned operation. (see map).

Karamea aerial possum control is targeting possums as part of OSPRI’s working towards TB eradication. This work supports ground work control programmes in the area and livestock testing. To achieve Proof of Freedom from TB, possum numbers must be kept low for several years.

The operation will have additional conservation benefits for native birds and bush. Our work adjoins larger predator control operations planned by DOC in 2023, these lay to the east to the east and will support the protection of native wildlife like whio, great spotted kiwi, kaka, powelliphanta land snails and long tailed bats.

This operation is planned for May and June 2023.

Warning signs will be installed at public entry points and throughout the area. Possum carcass and bait monitoring will occur to determine when the area is toxic free. Please treat the area with caution until monitoring results have determined there is no further risk and all warning signs have been removed.

Karamea Map

Key fact sheet

Paparoa Range and Te Wharau Aerial Possum Control 2023

Paparoa Range and Te Wharau Aerial Possum Control is a joint possum and predator control operation between OSPRI and the Department of Conservation. This collaboration will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of achieving their respective objectives: OSPRI, to eradicate TB and DOC, to protect native plants and wildlife.

This control will be in the form of an aerial application of Sodium fluoroacetate [1080] in cereal pellet form to approximately 47,400 hectares from Mt Pecksniff and the head waters of Big River in the south to Buller River to the north. OSPRI and DOC have contracted Vector Control Services (VCS) to manage and undertake the planned operation. (see map).

Paparoa aerial possum control is targeting possums as part of OSPRI’s working towards TB eradication. This work supports ground work control programmes in the area and livestock testing. To achieve Proof of Freedom from TB, possum numbers must be kept low for several years.

The Paparoa Range is a valuable site for DOC. It consists of podocarp and beech forest as well as alpine tussock. It is home to vulnerable native species including Roroa/great spotted kiwi. Predator control will increase the survival rate of vulnerable native species in the region. An example is monitoring in 2017 in Northern Paparoa Range showed 100% of roroa chicks were predated by stoats.

This operation is planned from July 2023.

Warning signs will be installed at public entry points and throughout the area. Possum carcass and bait monitoring will occur to determine when the area is toxic free. Please treat the area with caution until monitoring results have determined there is no further risk and all warning signs have been removed

Map

Key fact sheet

Ground Control Operations