Will peppermint-flavour stop kea eating 1080 bait?

Department of Conservation scientists are testing whether mint-flavoured and nauseating bird repellents help stop curious kea interacting with 1080 baits, which are meant to protect them from predators. The newresearch, funded by DOC and agriculture disease management company OSPRI, is trialling whether two substances help stop kea interacting with 1080 baits in Canterbury’s Arthur’s Pass – while still luring in predators. Kea are considered nationally endangered, with anywhere between 1000 and 5000 birds left. The birds are a taonga species for Ngāi Tahu and Ngā iwi o Te Tau Ihu, but are at serious risk from predators like stoats, possums and feral cats. Researchers have completed trials with a peppermint-flavoured additive in non-toxic cereal baits at 18 alpine sites.