ATTRACTIVENESS OF POSSUM APPLE BAITS TO NATIVE BIRDS AND HONEY BEES

This study investigated the potential risks of using 1080 apple bait for possum control on non-target species. Trials were conducted using captive native birds at Orana Park and honeybees (Apis mellifera) at Halswell to determine whether these species would feed on non-poisonous apple baits. Bird species were kaka (Nestor meridionalis), kea (Nestor notabilis), kakariki (Cyanoramphus sp.), silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), weka (Gallirallus australis) and kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). Kaka, kea, kakariki and silvereye preferred to feed on apple bait over carrot bait, spending 74-100% of their feeding time on the apple bait. Honeybees were not attracted to the apple bait. It is concluded that there could be a greater risk to native birds when apple baits are used for possum control compared to the risk associated with using carrot bait. Consequently it is recommended that aerial application of apple should not be undertaken and that apple baits should be used in bait stations only.