Native vegetation is ‘bouncing back’ following the success of the multi-agency feral goat elimination programme facilitated by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, but the community is being asked to remain vigilant and report any sightings of feral goats in places they shouldn't be.
“Feral goats are determined, agile, sneaky pests that cause widespread damage to our environment, economy and recreational assets. They have no respect for boundaries and despite the belief that they’re ‘good for weeds’, they eat all the ‘good stuff’ first and will only eat gorse and weeds when there is no other choice,” said Pam Richardson, Chair of the Feral Goat Committee.
The feral goat eradication programme is a great example of a successful community-led, agency supported approach. Banks Peninsula farmers led the charge; the wider community is providing ongoing monitoring; and agency partners, Christchurch City Council, Department of Conservation, and Environment Canterbury, are providing funding, and logistical and technical support.
This work has been ongoing for several years and is now part of the ambitious Pest Free Banks Peninsula (PFBP) programme. In what MPI described as ‘New Zealand's largest feral goat elimination attempt’, we managed to remove more than 4,000 feral goats from a 45,000 ha area of the ‘true peninsula, south of Gebbie’s Pass.
“We are so grateful for the support of peninsula farmers and landowners, they are the reason this attempt at elimination was successful”, said Pam Richardson. “Few people believed we could truly achieve elimination, so our success is testament to the efforts and tenacity of these locals, who were determined not to be outsmarted by feral goats!”
“We know that there are a small number of feral goats on the Port Hills and these are gradually being controlled to prevent them reinvading the peninsula”.
Illegal dumping and farm escapees remain an ever-present danger, however. Since achieving elimination, there have been several feral goat sightings reported via the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust’s ‘Report a Pest’ webpage. Thankfully none of these proved to be legitimate ferals.
As well as relying on the community to ‘keep their eyes peeled for feral goats’, Environment Canterbury has supported the elimination programme by declaring goats a ‘site-specific pest’ in the Regional Pest Management Plan. This adds an expectation that any goats kept for domestic purposes or as pets are appropriately contained.
"Domestic goats are one wobbly fence away from potentially becoming feral goats,” said Richardson. “Many of our established pest plants and animals are garden or farm escapees, so we’re asking landowners to manage domestic populations so they can’t escape and re-establish feral populations.”
Ends
Further notes:
· The elimination programme is facilitated by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust. Representatives from ECAN, CCC, and DOC sit on the Feral Goat Eradication Committee. Specialist contractors Kiwi Field Crew Ltd were engaged for on-ground removal.
· The ‘true’ peninsula refers to South of Gebbies Pass, where feral goats have been eliminated from a total area of 45,000 ha.
· Feral goats cause considerable damage to understorey vegetation that is within reach (up to 2m above the ground). Coupled with the effects of possum browse in the canopy, this results in significant and often permanent damage to native vegetation; regeneration may be halted and palatable species completely lost from areas.
· Goats are agile animals, able to exploit steep and rocky hill slopes and bluff areas unsuitable to other animals. The loss of vegetation in these areas can lead to increased soil erosion.
· Under ECAN’s Canterbury Regional Management Plan 2018 – 2038 landowners are required to tag all farmed goats and ensure they are contained behind a goat-proof fence.
· If you spot a feral goat, you can report it here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/b152f02a20e14959a80c97917cc669d1
For more information: Nikki Hawkey 021 759 257