Ferrets wanted dead or alive, $100 bounty

09 May, 2020

Ferrets are a worrisome predator because they can attack adult kiwi as well as juveniles, so any time a ferret is spotted or caught the alarm bells go off about potential impact on the kiwi population in our backyard.

Piroa-Brynderwyns Landcare (PBL) is asking the community to alert them of any sightings of ferrets and the location where they saw them so volunteer trappers have the best chance at removing them and any other members of their family in the vicinity. Ferrets are a key menace to the survival of kiwi and other wildlife in the Piroa Brynderwyns Hills.

A $100 bounty is being offered by PBL for ferrets – dead or alive. These will be collected to assess age, sex and review the capture site. The ferret sighting or capture must be within 5km of the PBL boundary. Check the PBL website pbl.org.nz for details on this.

A big call out to Emily and Liam who recently caught a ferret on their land at Waipu. Both are passionate about New Zealand’s native flora and fauna and improving biodiversity on their land and the surrounding area. They have had traps on their property for 18 months – a few mustelid traps and one live capture trap. Catching the ferret in March was a surprise as they have mainly caught feral cats and possums to date.

The success of the kiwi population in the ranges is due to the sustained hard work of locals bringing back kiwi after over 50 years of absence, but those kiwi are not out of the woods yet. Diligent trapping needs to continue, especially with mustelids. Ferrets are readily identified with different size and markings compared to other mustelids, such as stoats and weasels, and can cover a huge territory.

The PBL response, where ferrets have been sighted, is to put in place a more rigorous trapping network – as with the recent one on the boundary of Marunui – and help raise awareness in the community of what a danger these predators present. PBL can help provide traps and show people how to use them effectively and safely. The right lure is an important part of trapping technique and a lot of research is going into new lures. Meantime, salted rabbit or hare and salmon skin remain favourites.

n Locals can help identify where ferrets were seen and help by adding to the trap network. Email PBL PiroaBrynderwynsLandcare@outlook.com or text Graeme Giles 021 118 4816, Peter Hunt 021 666 779.

WANTED: Ferrets are readily identified with different sizes and markings compared to other mustelids, such as stoats and weasels. GRAPHIC/JAMES HUNT

Emily and Liam’s ferret was a juvenile, and that means there may well be other siblings or parents close by. PHOTO/SUPPLIED