Predator Free Rakiura is now planning for the first stage of operations to eradicate feral cats, rats, possums and hedgehogs from Rakiura / Stewart Island says Predator Free Rakiura
“As part of this work, we are trialing ways to understand and minimise the potential impact of eradication operations on the island’s valued white-tailed deer population, given their importance to people and to the local economy.”
“Thousands of hunters visit Rakiura/Stewart Island every year, drawn by the promise of an hunting challenge in a wild, remote setting. Some island residents also hunt white-tails for the freezer. When an aerial 1080 operation is proposed, as it has been this year to protect the critically endangered pukunui, hunters are anxious to know how that might affect the island’s white-tail herd.”
predator Free Rakiura says deer repellents can be used in 1080 operations to reduce deer by-kill by discouraging deer from consuming toxic baits. Across the country, DOC considers using deer repellent in 1080 bait for pest control operations in areas where there are herds of particular importance to hunters. Predator Free Rakiura, DOC and ZIP are in discussion with experienced hunters, Game Animal Council and the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association to determine areas where the use of deer repellent may be appropriate on Rakiura.
“However, before these decisions can be made, we need to understand more about the effect of deer repellent in Rakiura’s environment.”
For years now, various repellent formulations have been applied to 1080 baits to make them less appealing to deer. Results have varied according to the recipe used, the species of deer, the time of year, the type of 1080 bait, and the type of forest, but some repellents have worked very well, particularly on larger deer like red deer.
But Rakiura’s forests are different, so there’s a case for understanding better how deer repellent might work on the island, which is why Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) asked Landcare Research -Manaaki Whenua to design a trial using non-toxic cereal baits locally.
ZIP is also proposing a separate comparison trial during the proposed aerial 1080 operation to protect pukunui this year to answer another research question: does deer repellent make baits less attractive to rats and possums, the targets of the operation? This trial will compare areas with and without deer repellent within the proposed treatment area, using intensive monitoring grids to observe how white-tailed deer and target species respond.
Again, trials in the past have shown mixed results, in which some repellents had little effect on bait palatability, while others have turned target species off.
This research will help determine whether deer repellent is a viable option in the bid to eradicate pests from Rakiura.
During discussions with hunting experts, they have recommended research into the effectiveness of deer repellent bait on white-tailed deer. While repellent-treated bait has been tested in other deer species, little is currently known about how this species responds.
Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), in collaboration with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, is starting this work by conducting a trial of the deer repellent Prodeer, in a non-toxic bait. This trial aims to assess whether Prodeer deer repellent discourages white-tailed deer from eating non-toxic bait. The results will inform ZIP’s proposal to trial the use of deer repellent more widely. The trial will begin in early March 2025, and continue in different areas over several months.
Trials will take place on public conservation land with permission from the Department of Conservation (DOC). Signs will be placed at track entrances and near trial sites.Trials may also be undertaken on private land. If you would like us to undertake a trial on your land please contact us at info@zip.org.nz
Non-toxic cereal bait pellets – undyed and containing no toxins (pictured below) – will be placed by hand in front of monitoring cameras. Non-toxic bait will be tested equally with and without deer repellent, allowing comparisons of white-tailed deer interactions. Once deer are observed interacting with the non-toxic bait, the site will be relocated, and any remaining bait will be removed.
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research has designed the trial and is leading data analysis. ZIP is implementing the trial, including fieldwork.
The deer repellent did not work on the Glenorchy whitetail deer herd. Can you trust zealots/fanatics to put the deer repellent in?
Whitetailed deer are known to eat supplejack berries as a major part of their diet. They pick these off the ground after they fall. So, Whitetailed deer are used to picking food off the ground. Deer repellent is not known to work on whitetailed deer, so we can expect the usual post-1080 deer carnage, just like everywhere else that 1080 is used.
Surely this is worth a try. Rather than reject something that Doc is doing to try to accomodate hunters, why not wait and see how the trial goes. Constantly rejecting whatever Doc does is not helpful for long term relations. We need to stop fighting yesterdays battles and rather than looking back, look forward and be part of the answer.
Seen deer repellent in action and following an estimated 82% kill by the experts deer repellent was used on a drop in the same area a few years later, four deer were found in an already seriously depleted herd. Anyone who thinks deer repellent will work are fools.