Short pulse of 1080 improves the survival of brown kiwi chicks in an area subjected to long-term stoat trapping. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robertson, HA; Craig, E; Gardiner, C; Graham, PJ
• Is Part Of: New Zealand journal of zoology. Volume 43:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 351
• Page End: 362
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Apteryx mantelli -- Mustela erminea -- trappability -- secondary poisoning -- sodium fluoroacetate -- invasive species -- integrated pest control -- New Zealand; Animals -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Zoology -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; Zoologie -- Nouvelle-Zélande -- Périodiques; Zoologie -- Pacifique, Région du -- Périodiques; Zoologie -- Antarctique -- Périodiques; Insectes -- Classification -- Périodiques; Espèces introduites -- Périodiques; 590.99305
• DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2016.1185018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1175-8821

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Many mainland populations of kiwi are declining because stoats ( Mustela erminea ) kill most of their chicks. Stoats are often trapped during conservation programmes, but the long-term effectiveness of trapping has not been measured. During continuous trapping of mammalian predators in the 9800 ha Whangarei Kiwi Sanctuary, the survival of brown kiwi ( Apteryx mantelli ) chicks declined over time. Following the use of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) to kill rats ( Rattus spp.) and possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) and likely secondary poisoning of stoats, chick survival at Riponui increased from 5% to 56%, and the 62% chick survival at Rarewarewa was better than the 20% recorded in a trapped-only area nearby. We suggest that untrappable stoats accumulate in areas subjected to continuous predator trapping. Conservation managers should build into their long-term pest control programmes a periodic pulse of an alternative tool to kill pests that, for whatever reason, actively avoid the primary control tool.