32 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Pest Animal Management Plan | Wharekirauponga Compensation Package | 30 May 2022 8.0 Control methods – Ungulates 8.1 Methods Ungulates (pigs and goats, as deer are not thought to be present) will be controlled primarily via shooting by experienced contractors (not recreational hunters) with the appropriate certifications, within the 1 m buffer area shown on Map 3. Live-capture trapping (similar to pens with a one-way gate) and/or a toxic operation using sodium nitrate (for pigs) may also be undertaken if required. The duration of each hunting effort will depend on the densities of goats and pigs present and the effort required to bring densities down to target levels. Control efforts will therefore be focused around whether ungulates are being detected during surveillance. Pigs, in particular, are likely to move in and out of the pest management area from surrounding bush areas so control efforts will need be responsive to detected increases in activity. In addition, when hunting should occur when conditions are more favourable (e.g. avoiding peak of summer as too dry, or winter too cold/wet and animals are bedding down). Hunting will primarily comprise ground hunting with dogs. Pig hunting using pig dogs is most effective, while trained indicator dogs are also more successful than hunter alone. If toxins are being deployed in areas, hunting at those sites will cease for a period of time until risk of secondary poisoning to dogs is addressed. If ungulates persist, a ‘wall-of-death’ approach may be required, whereby professional hunters are employed to systematically work their way through the patch and ideally shoot all individuals in the population. Many ungulate populations have been successfully eradicated from New Zealand using this approach (Fraser et al., 2003). Aerial shooting (e.g. via a helicopter) is unlikely to be a suitable method given the dense canopy across most of the site. If pig numbers are high, this may require more regular hunting efforts (e.g. monthly operations), and/or additional nights of hunting live cage traps (similar to pens with a one-way gate) may also need to be used. Traps should be set where vegetation can provide shade and shelter, near identified pig runs, and where pigs are frequenting or feeding regularly. Pigs are attracted to bait with a strong odour. Bait can include offal, grain, commercial pig or poultry pellets, vegetables or fruit. Large amounts of bait will be required, around 10-20 kg each time. Bait should be placed in the trap for a week prior to setting (with the same amount and type of bait). All traps must be inspected daily, with any trapped pigs must be destroyed by shooting as quickly and humanely as possible (Greater Wellington Regional Council, 2012). If trapping occurs, it is recommended that wireless cameras are used to monitor traps sites, and wireless sensors to notify the person responsible for setting the trap when trap has gone off to avoid the required daily inspections. There is currently only a single registered vertebrate toxic agent in New Zealand for controlling pigs: sodium nitrite (NaNO2) in Bait-Rite Paste® Connovation Ltd. This bait can be used as an additional control measure if the feral pig threshold is exceeded. This bait must be used as per label instructions. Baiting methodology should follow the protocols described in Shapiro et al. (2016), with baits delivered in sets of three wooden bait boxes (measuring 800 mm long, 450 mm wide and 190-mm deep and spaced 10 m apart in a triangle formation, each with a hinged lid that had a 5 cm lip protruding from the front face to allow pigs to open the lid with their
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