PAPER: Eradicating mammals on island reserves

Eradicating mammals on New Zealand island reserves: what is left to do?

April 2017

Parkes JP, Byrom AE, Edge KA 2017. Eradicating mammals on New Zealand island reserves: what is left to do? New Zealand Journal of Ecology 41(2): 263-270.

ABSTRACT

In 2016, the New Zealand Government announced a policy to rid the country of key introduced predators (possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), ship rats (Rattus rattus), Norway rats (R. norvegicus) and mustelids (Mustela spp.)) by 2050. An interim goal under this policy is to remove all mammalian predators (the key species as well as mice (Mus musculus), kiore (R. exulans), cats (Felis catus), pigs (Sus scrofa) and hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)) from island nature reserves by 2025.

KEYWORDS

costs, eradication, invasion risks, predators, reserves