Pest Inquiry (Stoats)

This is my stoat presentation, How and why they came to New Zealand and a lot more

Stoat Inquiry

Question One: What impacts do stoats have on the food web?

Stoats are well known for being vicious predators that kill multiple species which consist of birds, mammals and reptiles. Sadly they have killed more than one type of species, those being bush wren, laughing owl and even New Zealand thrush. Stoats can even reach the limits of killing a 2kg kakapo.

Question Two: What do stoats do to native species?

Stoats are vicious creatures and tend to eat all sorts of food they can find. Many examples of this vary from baby chicks or birds to small kiwis that can't defend themselves. How a stoat kills their prey is quite simple. They track it down by smell and if they track a scent they are sure of there is little hope for the prey. They will hide until they spot their prey then pounce on it then bite the back of the neck near the base of the skull.

Question Three: What do Stoats prey on?

Stoats have a diet of eating mainly rabbits, water voles, rats and small mammals and reptiles. They also eat birds, eggs, fruit and kiwis and when they get desperate they will result to eating earthworms when they can’t find any other source of food.

Question Four: When did stoats arrive in New Zealand?

Stoats are members of the mustelid family along with weasels and ferrets. They were brought to New Zealand back in 1879 to control the rabbits that were destroying the sheep pastures. From a early point of them arriving in New Zealand they have impacted us in many ways including killing multiple species of birds and mammals

Question Five: What can and is being done to get rid of stoats?

Currently many people around New Zealand are trying to get rid of stoats in various ways. This includes trapping, hunting and poisoning them

Bibliography

Stoats arrival in nz

Stoats (Mustela erminea) are members of the mustelid family. Weasels and ferrets are also mustelids. All three species were introduced to New Zealand as early as 1879 to control rabbits that were destroying sheep pasture. From very early on, stoats have had a devastating effect on New Zealand’s unique birdlife.

Stoats Information - Wikipedia

The stoat (Mustela erminea) was introduced into New Zealand to control introduced Rabbits and ha, but is now a major threat to the native bird population. The natural range of the stoat is limited to parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Immediately before human settlement, New Zealand did not have any land-based mammals apart from bats, but Polynesian and European settlers introduced a wide variety of animals. Rarely, in Southland, the fur of stoats has been reported to turn white, being the fur known as ermine, which adorns royal robes.

Stoats - GOVT

Large numbers of stoats (Mustela erminea) were brought from Britain in the 1870s to control ‘verminous rabbits’. They immediately spread to the bush, where they preyed on native animals. Stoats are energetic, bold and versatile hunters, foraging in every hole, under any cover and up the tallest trees. They are also good swimmers.