Possum poison plan delayed for rare bats

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 546, 26 July 1994, Page 5

Possum poison plan delayed for rare bats

The activities of the Ruapehu region's rare species of short tailed bat delayed last week' s scheduled 1080 possum poison bait drop coordinated by the Department of Conservation. Senior ranger John Lough said that the drop has been re-scheduled for Tuesday 9 August, after survey work and monitering of the New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bats' (latin

name My ftacina tuberculata rhyacobia) activities has been completed. Recent surveys carried out by scientists indicate that the bats are in hibernation, making next month the perfect time to carry out the eradication programme, he said. The Department of Conservation has taken great pains to ensure the safety of the species that is of special significance to this area, which, according to stud-

ies, has the highest density of short tailed bats in New Zealand. With the ground-forag-ing bats inactive over the winter months, an August poison drop is the safest option for the species. Fine weather Mr Lough said that the contractors, the ManawatuWanganui Regional Council, will need three consecutive days of fine weather to conduct the drop that in-

volves distributing 9500kg of 1080 poisoned bait over a radius of roughly 1900 hectares. The programme is a coordinated effort between DoC and the Wanganui-Manawatu Regional Council who are conducting a poisoning programme through selected farm land. Combined with the poison drop in the Tongariro National Park, the Department of Conservation is aiming to estab-

lish a buffer zone around the park. Corridor A corridor traversing both sides of the Ohakune Mountain Road will remain bait-free and will instead be trapped by hand, reducing the possible risk of human contact with the bait. In pollard (granular) form, the bait is coloured a bright green and is easily recognisable. Pellets are round in shape, around

45mm thick and 15mm in diameter. Pellets weigh around 4.5g. Mr Lough said the eradication of possums within the park will ultimately benefit the entire ecosystem, including plant andbird life.

He is also optimistic that a reduction in possum numbers may go some way to preserving the last remnants of Northern Rata growing in this area, as well as the survival of two species of rare native mistletoe.