42 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Pest Animal Management Plan | Wharekirauponga Compensation Package | 30 May 2022 particularly in habitats in which animals are difficult to count directly (e.g. forests with a closed canopy via aerial methods) (Latham et al., 2012). A Faecal Pellet Index (FPI) protocol was developed for the Department of Conservation by Landcare Research to standardise methods of estimating changes in the relative abundance of feral deer in New Zealand, which remains the most common method of estimating long-term changes in the relative abundance of feral deer in New Zealand (Forsyth, 2005). Goat pellets are smaller than deer, approximately 10 mm wide. Pig droppings are usually dark, flattened, roughly oval pellets joined in a large cylinder. For pigs, a modified transect method looking for disturbance / rooting is also recommended. Camera traps will be deployed for monitoring predators, and may also detect ungulates. Any detection on a camera trap, regardless of the target species, will initiate further control. Obvious damage caused by feral ungulates may also include uprooted seedlings, digging up of earth (in the case of pigs), and chewed bark, leaves or branches (Greater Wellington Regional Council, 2012). 10.5 Monitoring for wasps Wasp nests will be monitored both before and after treatment with bait to determine success of the operation as per the standard Wasp Nest Flight Count Monitoring Method (DOC-2597036). If wasp activity threshold increases within one year, wasp control should remain in place for one more season. 10.6 ‘Smart’ monitoring technology In addition, new real-time monitoring technology (e.g. CritterPic™ remote monitoring system with AI species identification) will be incorporated into the WAPMA as it becomes available, which will allow for instant (real-time) detection of pests. New technologies also have the advantage of higher detections of smaller species such as rats and mice. This greatly enhances management approaches by allowing rapid responses to pest increases, and the set-and-forget nature of these technologies also reduces human impact associated with frequent monitoring which has the potential to disturb / kill frogs. Real time AI monitoring tools can also be used to detect the presence of larger predators e.g. feral cats and ungulates.
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