Offer to help cat owners comply with plan

STEWART ISLAND

ENVIRONMENT Southland will cover the costs of cat owners on Stewart Island so residents can conform to a new pest plan.

Feral cats are a managed pest in the Southland regional pest management plan, which describes them as ‘‘the ultimate predators’’ in New Zealand, killing birds, bats, lizards, weta and other insects.

Under the plan introduced last year, noone can own or release any domestic cat on the island that is not desexed and microchipped.

To help with that, Environment Southland biosecurity and biodiversity operations manager Ali Meade said it would work with the community.

‘‘We know most people who keep domestic cats on Rakiura are responsible pet owners, and we want to support the community to continue doing the right thing.

“At the start of the year we had plans to get in touch with Stewart Island residents to discuss the best ways to implement our rules, and offer opportunities to have domestic cats desexed and microchipped for free.’’

The Covid19 lockdown ‘‘put a spanner in the works’’, but as the birdbreeding season had now arrived and travel was slowly returning back to normal, the team was looking to continue the project as soon as possible.

‘‘Feral cats live in the wild and have none of their needs provided for by humans. They’re expert hunters with acute senses, and known to breed prolifically. Any feral cat that’s been trapped should be destroyed,’’ Ms Meades said.

Feral cats were not allowed to be kept or rehomed because of the risk of them interbreeding with domestic cats.

Department of Conservation Murihiku office senior ranger community Phillip Melgren gave a verbal report to Environment Southland councillors at a committee meeting yesterday. In it he said people had the perception feral cats were mangy and small.

‘‘They’re not. They can be massive.’’