Unwanted wallabies and weeds
There have been no more signs of wallabies around Taranaki’s northern border since a female wallaby with a joey in her pouch was found in Mōkau.
It is believed to have got there with human help, due to the distance from the dama wallaby containment area in the Bay of Plenty. Scat (wild animal droppings) was located by a dog on August 2, and a fresh footprint from a wallaby was also found a week after the female was located.
Dogs have been used to search an area of more than 3689 hectares. Trail cameras remain and will come out about midSeptember, when another update is expected.
The discovery of the wallaby is a real concern for Taranaki, says Taranaki Regional Council’s Environment Services Manager Steve Ellis. He’s imploring people not to transport wallabies into the region – or anywhere - for any reason.
“Wallabies may look cute, but they are serious pests, with the potential to do significant damage to Taranaki’s environment and native species. The last thing our farmers and landowners need is another pest species to contend with.”
Left unchecked, it has been conservatively estimated one third of the North Island could be subjected to the impacts of wallabies in less than 50 years.
Wallabies are a significant pest and threat to our environment and native species habitat. They eat seedlings, grass and crops, causing costly losses to forestry and farming by competing for pasture with stock and damaging forestry seedlings. They also target the same native plant species as deer, so the combined impact of both animals on long term health and structure of native forests and our biodiversity can be dramatic.
He says the Council is in constant contact with Waikato Regional Council, which is leading the response.
“We’ve offered to support the response in any way we can, such as identifying search areas or liaising with landowners. While the Mōkau River will slow the movement of wallabies, there’s no guarantee it will stop them moving south. They only need to cross the bridge, or a narrower section of the river.”
Taranaki Regional Council’s new joint project with Ministry for Primary Industries is working to raise public awareness of pest species that are not currently in Taranaki but would be a threat were they to make it to the region. Wallabies were lower down that list, as they were considered to be fairly well confined in the Bay of Plenty.
“Now they are right at our border, it makes that threat much more urgent.”
Another unwanted discovery in the region is alligator weed.
Mr Ellis says the identification of the aquatic weed in a lagoon near Waitara was disappointing but was perhaps inevitable, given it is widespread in neighbouring regions.
“Our initial investigations indicate it has not spread beyond the lagoon system, however it’s too soon to rule out that possibility. We are planning a further survey in November when the plant would be at its most visible. Alligator weed is notoriously difficult and costly to control once it becomes widely established so we’re doing everything we can to prevent that happening.”
Mr Ellis thanked everyone who has reported suspicious weeds and urges the public to remain vigilant.
“This example shows just how important community support is for biosecurity. The more eyes we have out and about, the less chance of new weeds being allowed to thrive.”
Anyone who spots an unusual weed should upload a photo to the Find-a-pest app or website or call 0800 736 222.
For wallabies, report any signs to www.reportwallabies.nz or 0800 800 401.