Western Southland TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for Western Southland includes wildlife surveillance.
Eradicating bovine TB in NZ
As part of our TBfree programme we deliver our pest control operations through a framework of TB management areas (TMAs). TMAs are areas with known TB infection in livestock or wildlife. Each TMA has a specific TB control plan designed to eradicate TB as effectively as possible.
The Western Southland TMA
The Western Southland TMA covers 131,490 hectares and centres around the southern Takitimu Mountains.
There is a central core of rugged mountainous peaks with river valleys and extensive tracts of exotic and native bush. Outside these areas is a concentration of intensive farming on highly developed and improved land.
History of TB and pest control in Western Southland
The Western Southland TMA has a long history of TB infection in wildlife. TB-infected ferrets have been found in the area for many years.
We completed ground control in:
- Blackmount, Sharpridge, Twinlaw, Wairaki, Wether Hill, and Woodlaw in 2017/2018
- Letham, Mount Linton, Wairaki, and Wether Hills in 2018/2019, and
- Letham, Mount Linton, Opio, Telford, Wairaki and Wether Hill in 2021/2022
- Letham, Mount Linton, Opio and Wether Hill in 2022/2023.
We completed ferret surveys in:
- Blackmount, Dunrobin, Gowan Hill, Letham, Mangapiri, Mount Linton, Nightcaps, Opio, Sharpridge, Twinlaw, Wairaki, Wether Hill and Woodlaw in 2018/2019
- Dunrobin, Black Mount, Gowan Hill, Letham, Mangapiri, Mount Linton, Nightcaps, Opio, Sharpridge, Twinlaw, Wairaki, Wether Hill and Woodlaw in 2019/2020, and
- Letham, Mount Linton and Wether Hill in 2021/2022.
We are doing further research to investigate possum density in small areas, and see how this impacts the infected ferret population.
We also completed a pig survey in Western Southland in 2019/2020.
Current state
As of June 2023, the Western Southland TMA has no infected herds.
Future pest control operations
We plan our pest control operations up to 3 years in advance. The current year runs from July 2023 to June 2024.
Dates and control methods for pest control operations in Western Southland are provisional and subject to change. If you’re affected by any upcoming operations, our pest control contractors will contact you before work begins. They will:
- talk you through the specifics of each operation
- explain what you need to do before the operations start
- get your consent for the work to be done.
| Type of control | When | Coverage | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferret survey | 2023/2024 | 25,700ha | Letham, Mount Linton, Wether Hill |
| Pig survey | 2023/2024 | 26,000ha | Letham, Mount Linton, Wether Hill |
| Ferret survey | 2024/2025 | 25,700ha | Letham, Mount Linton, Wether Hill |
| Pig survey | 2024/2025 | 26,000ha | Letham, Mount Linton, Wether Hill |
Map of 2023/2024 pest control operations
The proposed areas for wildlife surveillance are marked in blue.
Interactive map showing Western Southland TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Contract Wild Animal Control NZ Ltd manages eradication activities in the Western Southland TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.
Contract Wild Animal Control NZ Ltd
Phone: 0800 292 269
Email: lyndon@cwacnzl.com
Nearest local OSPRI office
OSPRI Dunedin office
PO Box 5745
Moray Place
Dunedin 9058
Phone: 03 477 9829
Email: cr_ssi@ospri.co.nz