Otago Peninsula is on the brink of becoming possum-free, thanks to the tireless efforts of conservationists and local communities. But here's where it gets controversial: While the focus is on possums, the conversation is shifting towards the broader goal of eliminating multiple pest species. And this is the part most people miss...
For years, residents, community groups, and the Predator Free Dunedin collaboration have been working tirelessly to remove possums from the peninsula's approximately 9,000 hectares. The last line of defense is a patchwork of backyards, gullies, and bush, which will now be crucial in stopping any remaining possums from reinvading. Over 25,000 possums have already been removed from the area.
The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, is leading the ground efforts. They've been using AI cameras, trail cameras, and a possum scat detection dog named Scout to track down any remaining survivors. The community's buy-in has been impressive, with residents reporting sightings and granting permissions to clear predators from their properties. Possums don't really care about property boundaries, after all.
The project manager, Jonah Kitto-Verhoef, was also the handler for Scout. He emphasized the dog's crucial role in helping them determine where to focus their efforts and where to move on. "Half the challenge is having the data confidence to make operational decisions with the speed that we need to do so," he said. "The scat dog, compared to every other technique, is the real game changer for us to be able to move rapidly."
The project's lead, Rhys Millar, shared that the wider project area stretches across more than 40,000 hectares, including the Orokunui Ecosanctuary and the city. "We're now at a point where we feel confident that we can eliminate possums, and we're beginning to explore multi-species elimination operations, which will encapsulate rats, the suite of mustelids as well as possums," Millar said. "We're going to likely include feral cats and also rabbits in the mix. Not that rabbits are a target species for Predator Free 2050, we believe by removing rabbits it will make the control of mustelids a lot easier."
The project is already noticing positive changes, such as more bird life and a greater diversity of plants that were previously snacked on by possums. Kitto-Verhoef noted, "We've got people in residential areas who are winning flower competitions with their magnolias for the first time because they've been browsed so heavily by possums. People enjoy crops of broad beans and their roses, so I guess our view of success is often in a conservation lens, but for some people, success is being able to grow a healthy rose bush."
While the team is excited to celebrate success on the peninsula, Kitto-Verhoef is also looking forward to the next challenge. Millar added, "Current funding uncertainties do make forward planning beyond the next two years quite difficult, so it's really important for us to prove that we can deliver." They might reach a time where they have to simply maintain their wins and tread water rather than expand further, as it's vital not to lose the hard-won gains.
So, what do you think? Do you agree with the project's approach, or do you have a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
