Substitute Options for 1080 Resolution
New Zealand is renowned for its innovative approaches to pest management, particularly in controlling invasive species like stoats, ferrets, and wallabies. While the widely used 1080 poisoning method faces opposition due to its potential impact on non-target species and the environment, the country continues to develop and research more targeted and humane methods.
One such development is the use of species-specific toxins. Rudi Marquez-Mazlin, a professor at the University of Canterbury, is investigating a naturally occurring compound that leads to early menopause in rats and possums as a potential pest control method. This compound, when delivered via bait, disrupts fertility in females but does not affect behavior or health, and is species-specific.
Goodnature designs and produces self-resetting traps for rats, stoats, and possums, which are powered using pressurized CO canisters. These traps are more efficient, humane, and reduce the risk of bykill, making them a popular choice for pest control.
Research into using native plants, such as tutu (Coriaria arborea), as potential future rat toxins is being conducted. However, these toxins are considered inhumane and may not be feasible for wide-scale use.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) works with the New Zealand Fur Council to support fur recovery as an option for possum control, but it is not a primary solution. Trapping can be effective for controlling possums and stoats in accessible areas, along forest edges, along rivers, and in managed forests. DOC maintains 180,000 traps and spends more than $5 million each year on stoat and rat trapping.
Pest control devices, including traps and toxins, continue to develop with a focus on innovation and humane methods. For example, the EnviroMate 100TM is a self-monitoring, New Zealand-designed and manufactured pest control bait station that uses cyanide and can target multiple species.
While specific advancements in species-specific toxins are not detailed in the current search results, ongoing research would likely focus on developing targeted biological agents or genetic tools that can selectively affect pest species without harming non-target wildlife. This area of research is crucial for reducing the ecological impact of pest control measures.
Bush Bay Action, a trapping-only operation in the Opua Forest, discusses the viability of wide-scale trapping as an alternative to aerial 1080 operations. Biocontrol and gene editing are being considered as future possibilities for pest control, with the sequencing of the possum genome being a recent development.
Recent New Zealand-developed poisons include Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) for controlling stoats and feral cats, and sodium nitrate for ground control of possums and feral pigs. These poisons are considered humane and have low secondary poisoning risks.
However, there is currently no viable alternative to 1080 for aerial poison operations in New Zealand. Extensive research shows that 1080 is an effective, cost-effective way of managing pest populations, with minimal environmental accumulation and reduced bykill risks due to technological advances.
For those interested in learning more about the welfare performance of traps for capturing and/or killing small to medium-sized mammals, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research has valuable information. Predator Free NZ also provides advice on trapping best practice for rats, stoats, and ferrets, and profiles new predator control tools.
In conclusion, New Zealand's commitment to innovative and humane pest control methods is evident in the ongoing research and development of species-specific toxins and traps. As the country continues to explore new possibilities, it remains dedicated to minimizing the ecological impact of pest control measures while effectively managing invasive species.
- Rudi Marquez-Mazlin, a professor at the University of Canterbury, is investigating a compound for potential use in environmental-science as a pest control method, specifically targeting the fertility of rats and possums without affecting their behavior or health.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, those interested in learning about the welfare performance of traps for small mammals can find valuable information from Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research.
- Predator Free NZ provides advice on best practices for trapping rats, stoats, and ferrets, also showcasing new tools developed in technology for predator control.
- In the general-news sector, there is ongoing research focusing on developing targeted biological agents or genetic tools that can selectively affect pest species without causing harm to non-target wildlife in the realm of science, with a goal of reducing the environmental impact of pest control measures in lifestyle.
