Possum and Bovine Tb control resumes North Canty

The second stage of a major possum control operation in North Canterbury is due to get underway.

The operation covering 20,000 hectares between the South Eyre Road and Oxford Road, to the edge of Oxford village, follows the successful first stage of control which killed more than 1500 possums on both sides of the Waimakariri River up to the South Eyre Road last year.

Farmland and Eyre River-bed land will be controlled from mid-March until May using traps, or toxins which are laid in bait stations. No 1080 is involved in the operation.

Environment Canterbury manages possum and ferret control programmes for the Animal Health Board, to control Bovine tuberculosis across the Canterbury region.

“Bovine Tb in the Ashley Pest District, which is the land between the Waimakariri and Waipara Rivers, is at an all time low with no herds on movement control,” says ECan pest and biosecurity committee chair Cr Eugenie Sage. “This is the result of concerted possum and ferret control work and cattle and deer herd testing over the last 15 years.”

Over the whole district this financial year 160,755 ha will be controlled for possums. Targeted work on ferrets will also be carried-out in the district, all by ground control.

For more information: Phil Spencer Bovine Tb Management Officer, Environment Canterbury, Amberley 03 314 7034 or Kevin Gallagher Bovine Tb Contracts Manager 03 3639320 or Cr Eugenie Sage, Pests and Biosecurity Committee Chairperson 03 942 1251 or 021 155 3937.

NOTE:

1. The Eyre Riverbed North operation has been contracted to Excell Pest Control.

2. The control work is carried-out under Health Department, Hazardous Substances and Noxious Organisms (HSNO), and Environment Canterbury regulations, and after consultation with affected landowners.