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Animal pests threaten our region's native ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands, including the plants, birds, insects and other wildlife that live in them. Many animal pests are also a nuisance to farmers, in suburban gardens and businesses. Pest fish also affect our waterways, such as lakes and rivers. It's important that we control animal pests and stop them from spreading. Find out about animal pests, or classes of pests, managed in the Waikato region.
Environment Waikato carries out specific direct control work (using accredited contractors) to:
- enhance native vegetation on private land
- reduce the economic effects of pests, for example,when rooks eat newly sprouting maize crops.
- maintain the gains of previous Animal Health Board operation areas.
In most cases, responsibility for animal pest control lies with the land owner/occupier.
Animal pest information
The following animal pests are included in the most recent Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS). Policy and control information is available via these links, and where indicated factsheets available in hard copy:
Information about other animal pests such as wild deer, feral pigs, hedgehogs (European), rainbow lorikeets, fish (invasive species), lesser banded hornets and ants (invasive species) is available in the Regional Pest Management Strategy 2008-2013 (RPMS).
Contact your animal pest contractor
Environment Waikato contracts Biosecurity Animal Pest Contractors in three areas of the Waikato region, to provide practical advice on how to control animal pests. Find out who your nearest Biosecurity Animal Pest Contractor is and their contact details.
Animal Pest Control Operation Updates
Find out about our current Priority Possum Control Area operations (PPCA) here
Further information
Pest animal guide (1147 kb, 163 seconds to download, 56k modem). The animal section of the Environment Waikato pest guide is designed as a quick reference guide to pests in the Waikato region detailing which animals are declared pests and why. It also explains your obligations as a land occupier to manage pests, and the types of direct control that can be used on each pest.
Our Regional Pest Management Strategy contains more information on the control of animal pests in the Waikato region.
You can order hard copies of animal pest factsheets from this site.
Call our Freephone 0800 800 401 or contact us for further information.