The diet, population structure and breeding of ship rats (Rattus rattus L.) from Fiordland National Park were assessed from measurements and gut sample analysis of 248 rats trapped between March 2009 and March 2010, following a mast beech seedfall. They consumed many lepidopteran larvae but fewer weta and more vegetative plant matter than in other habitats, as well as beech seed. Birds and mice made up only a relatively small proportion of the diet. A lizard was also confirmed as a prey item of R. rattus, for the first time in New Zealand. The population included a high proportion of young rats and females that were breeding at an early age. A high percentage of females in breeding condition in each season, high uterine scar counts and consistent litter sizes throughout the year indicate high fecundity and year-round breeding. This breeding cycle is consistent with an ample food supply being available for rodents promoting a rat population irruption, which in turn may increase the predation pressure on native biodiversity.

Feratoxreg; is an encapsulated cyanide product used extensively throughout New Zealand for possum control It has advantages of being lightweight and is not legally required to be checked daily as are leghold traps This study evaluated delivery methods for Feratoxreg; by comparing the number of possums killed by Feratoxreg; treatments with the number of possums killed by an industry accepted standard ie possum captures in leghold traps When Feratoxreg; was used in plastic bags coated with a rat repellent and fixed to wires located at 5 m spacings significantly less possums were killed than in traps However when applied in bait stations at 50 m intervals Feratoxreg; killed as many possums as traps especially when possums were prefed nontoxic bait Feratox was also as effective as traps when used in paper bags located on trees 20 m apart and used with a flour and icing sugar blaze This study suggests that Feratoxreg; can provide a more costeffective alternative to trapping in areas with low to medium possum densities

The successful management of vertebrate wildlife populations can be dependent on the availability of reliable monitoring methods, and, depending on the status of the species in question, effective methods of conservation or control. The brushtail possum, introduced to New Zealand from Australia, is considered New Zealand's number one vertebrate pest. We assessed possum preferences for 3 types of visual lures and the potential use of this information for enhancing existing possum control technologies. Significantly more lures were interfered with by possums when the lures were associated with a luminescent strip, compared to lures that were plain white or UV-enhanced (P < 0.01 in both cases). In addition, more possums were killed when luminescent lures were attached to kill traps and bags of bait than when these devices were deployed without lures. This study has highlighted new information showing that luminescent lures could be a valuable new tool in the management of nocturnal marsupials, be they species considered pests (such as the brushtail possum in New Zealand), or species of conservation concern, such as many of Australia's marsupial species. KEY WORDS:control methods, field tests, luminescent lure, possum, vertebrate pest control, Trichosurus vulpecula, visual lure Proc. 22 nd Vertebr. Pest Conf. (R. M. Timm and J. M. O'Brien, Eds.) Published at Univ. of Calif., Davis. 2006. Pp. 479-482.

This study investigated the potential risks of using 1080 apple bait for possum control on nontarget 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 nonpoisonous 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 74100 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