Pest animal control methods

Using traps is an effective and manageable method for control of pest animals to protect our environment. You can trap on your own property or get involved in a local predator free group.

Find out about traps we recommend and handy tips.

Brodifacoum – for possum and rat control

Pindone – for rabbit control

Diphacinone – for rodent control

Feratox – for possum control

Cholecalciferol – for possum and rat control

Double tap – for possum and rat control

Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) – for possum and rat control

Occasionally we will carry out culling of a pest species at a regional park. The main purpose of these hunting operations is to cull pest animals such as deer, goats and pigs that degrade native ecosystems. Maximising numbers of pests culled is the best use of limited budgets. Carcasses are left to break down where they are felled (or dragged further off the tracks if they fall nearby).

Due to rules around food safety, we are not able to provide any carcasses to the public from hunting or culling operations.

To find out where our pest control operations are and how to stay safe, head to our pest control operations page.

We also have a range of guidelines and resources you can use to keep your dog safe in our region’s parks and reserves.

With so many pest animals out there, we all need to be involved in their control.

• Join a group – There are so many around Wellington! Meet new people and work together to remove pests. Check out a list of groups.
• Protect food waste – Rat-proofing your compost or getting a sealed worm farm is a great way to remove a food source for pests. Here’s how to do it.
• Trapping – you can always get a trap of your own and put it in your backyard. We’ve compiled some useful information on where to start.
• Talk to Predator Free Wellington– See if there is anything you can do to be involved!

You can use chew cards to find out if there are rats, mice, stoats, possums or hedgehogs. The cards are filled with a non-toxic substance that these pests like. You can identify the pest by the bite marks on the card.

Buy chew cards from Predator Free New Zealand or Good Nature.