Tagit wrote: Yes lots of trampers and yes some might like to see interesting birdlife, but they are mainly there for the tramp not the birds. I used to do a lot of tramping with different groups as well as a lot of hunting. Everyone would love to see a rare bird, but that wasn't why they were there. I would love to see out native bird life improve as well, but is 1080 the only way to achieve this?

My main concern over the use of 1080 and similar is the way the stuff kills it's intended and collaterals….fast forward to 2:00mins

Kezza, a conservative estimate of the birdlife killed by introduced predators would be in the millions. Populations of all native species plummeted after the introduction of stoats, ferrets and weasels. The net benefit to native fauna of keeping pest numbers down is immense. 

Titahi wrote: A kiwi being ripped to shreds by a dog aint pretty either Kezza. A possum chewing off its leg to escape a gin trap also isnt a pretty sight.  Unless you can come up with a cost effective strategy that equals the efficacy of 1080 nothing is going to change. I look forward to seeing  your solar powered fully automated humane pest killer, that  you design this lunchtime  :)

I think that most NZers are on the same page regarding the need to preserve our indigenous flora and fauna, and the need for a solution that is as humane as possible. And the fact that any pet dog which dies in pain is a tragedy, ditto the kea and other natives which get affected. We'd have to be heartless to not feel that way. 

Kezza wrote: Titahi wrote: A kiwi being ripped to shreds by a dog aint pretty either Kezza. A possum chewing off its leg to escape a gin trap also isnt a pretty sight.  Unless you can come up with a cost effective strategy that equals the efficacy of 1080 nothing is going to change. I look forward to seeing  your solar powered fully automated humane pest killer, that  you design this lunchtime  :) - So 1080 is a dog control method to protect kiwi?…good-good now we're getting somewhere!….slight tangent there….tropical fever Jas? - Yeah gin traps are fairly archaic and not sure how we got on to those? - Ok maybe not design but certainly scribble a few diagrams that a % of the costs of 1080 could go to developing….heck….was just an idea…there are bound to be better and and it's not really my job to plan strategies for the future of pest control….maybe that is why I/we employ Department of CONservation?….or does the business of 1080 a bit of a strangle hold on advancements in effective/targeted pest control?

Given how  water soluble  ( it is a salt) your concerns appear unfounded.

Good point Kezza. I live in central Auckland. Lots of cats ,dogs,rats ,a few possums,the odd stoat. Yet bird populations,including native are healthy. Recently counted 16 Tuis at the same time feeding on nectar on one tree. Other species include ,grey warbler,white eye,kingfisher,fantail,a few native pigeon  etc. Yet i go into the forest and it is silent.

All predators are very mobile. Introduced rats arrived here at seaports and have spread everywhere. So while we bombard the forest with 1080 we have cities and towns that are safe haven for predators just waiting to repopulate the forest .

Dont know the answer to this.

It is agreed that 1080 does hammer the forest pests ,but also agreed that a small percentage survive and can rebuild. We will never know the number of non target birds and animals it kills. It is not in DOCs interests that we know .
And what is being done regard culling other major pests,namely introduced European wasps. They strip honey dew thus depriving native birds of valuable food. They also strip mine insects in all stages of the life cycle. The endemic Helms Butterfly now appears to be extinct in the Waitakere ranges and very rare in other forest areas. Wasp predation..

So maybe the authorities are happy with the present situation.
From a cynical perspective the existence of DOC in its present form depends on having rare and endangered species. It all were restored and healthy what would happen to DOC.
 Cruel 1080 is probably the best we have at the present time,but it is not good enough for complete & lasting control .

just playing devil's advocate Jas….of course I wouldn't expect blanket arial drops in urban areas….and yes your last point is of a concern!

Keeza might be on the right track.must a market for the meat.edible but nit my first choice. Possum sleep on the ground and feed un trees from my understanding so perhaps stun them while sleeping on easy terrain?