Thread: TB control in Molesworth

I have received a reply from OSPRI:

I am writing to update you on our TBfree aerial operations at Molesworth & Muller Stations this winter.
OSPRI’s TBfree programme is continuously reviewing operational effectiveness and seeking to reduce environmental impacts and we have completed trialling of aerial low sow baiting and deer repellent over approximately 70,000 total hectares at Bush Gully, Tarndale, Saxton and Severn blocks.
From recent findings of possum control trials undertaken by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, we have learned 100% of radio collared possums across all treatment areas were eradicated within 5 days of the aerial 1080 operation. The possum control work was timed to coincide with the start of winter to enable quicker detoxification of aerial 1080 baits.
This approach has proved to be successful and will support our long-term goal of reducing possum numbers to sustainable levels so that the cycle of wildlife TB infection in cattle herds at Molesworth will be broken.
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research undertook deer repellent trials to investigate how OSPRI can minimise impacts on feral deer and reduce mortality rates following aerial pest control operations. Orillion bait incorporated with deer repellent (Prodeer) was spread across the entire treatment area and the results show that it has performed well in the Molesworth high country environment.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
· Possum kill: Possum control efficacy was high under all three baiting treatments. 100% collared possum mortality is reported to have happened within 5 days of the aerial operation commencing.
· Deer by-kill: In the Bush Gully & Tarndale blocks (standard 2kg/ha broadcast) 39 radio collared deer were confirmed present in the block at the time of the aerial operation. Of the 39, 2 deer died on the day of the aerial operation, indicating an estimated incidental by-kill of 5.1%
Researchers also observed 358 non-collared deer within the treatment area, 351 were alive, 7 dead.


Please find attached a copy of the MWLCR Prodeer research report
Let me know if you have any questions

Nice work Tahr, cheers for the info

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

Nice work Tahr, cheers for the info

+1
Chances of collared deer dying from stress of the operation on the day(and collar placement when it was done) rather than actual poisoning?

Thanks @Tahr for chasing the info down and keeping us updated

That's a good outcome , possums gone with minimal damage done to deer population, now DOC need to start using it on there operations

Originally Posted by Tahr

I have received a reply from OSPRI:

I am writing to update you on our TBfree aerial operations at Molesworth & Muller Stations this winter.
OSPRI’s TBfree programme is continuously reviewing operational effectiveness and seeking to reduce environmental impacts and we have completed trialling of aerial low sow baiting and deer repellent over approximately 70,000 total hectares at Bush Gully, Tarndale, Saxton and Severn blocks.
From recent findings of possum control trials undertaken by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, we have learned 100% of radio collared possums across all treatment areas were eradicated within 5 days of the aerial 1080 operation. The possum control work was timed to coincide with the start of winter to enable quicker detoxification of aerial 1080 baits.
This approach has proved to be successful and will support our long-term goal of reducing possum numbers to sustainable levels so that the cycle of wildlife TB infection in cattle herds at Molesworth will be broken.
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research undertook deer repellent trials to investigate how OSPRI can minimise impacts on feral deer and reduce mortality rates following aerial pest control operations. Orillion bait incorporated with deer repellent (Prodeer) was spread across the entire treatment area and the results show that it has performed well in the Molesworth high country environment.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
· Possum kill: Possum control efficacy was high under all three baiting treatments. 100% collared possum mortality is reported to have happened within 5 days of the aerial operation commencing.
· Deer by-kill: In the Bush Gully & Tarndale blocks (standard 2kg/ha broadcast) 39 radio collared deer were confirmed present in the block at the time of the aerial operation. Of the 39, 2 deer died on the day of the aerial operation, indicating an estimated incidental by-kill of 5.1%
Researchers also observed 358 non-collared deer within the treatment area, 351 were alive, 7 dead.


Please find attached a copy of the MWLCR Prodeer research report
Let me know if you have any questions

Hmmmm this is interesting info as i know a few guys that have seen more than 7 dead deer in there. and mostly stags

Originally Posted by burtonator

Hmmmm this is interesting info as i know a few guys that have seen more than 7 dead deer in there. and mostly stags

Could well be. I expect visual surveying is not an exact science. Good outcome never the less.

from the info i have been told, there is "a lot" more dead deer than they are saying.
I have personally not seen them but i trust info and I suspect we are not getting told the whole story

How many live deer did these guys see when they saw more than 7 dead deer Burtonator?

Originally Posted by burtonator

from the info i have been told, there is "a lot" more dead deer than they are saying.
I have personally not seen them but i trust info and I suspect we are not getting told the whole story

Of course people will say and think that.
There is a comprehensive report on the OSPRI operation being published next week.

over 3 days they saw 9 "Live" deer. not much by molesworth standards i won't say much more as i don't know all the info but as i said i suspect we aren't getting the whole story

Originally Posted by burtonator

over 3 days they saw 9 deer. not much by molesworth standards i won't say much more as i don't know all the info but as i said i suspect we aren't getting the whole story

Going by their collar death rate of 5%, and them visually counting 350 deer there will be at least 20 dead laying about (and 5 more dead for every extra 100 live ones).

If their stats are conservative you would see a few dead ones alright.

Still sounds like an ok outcome to me.

Thanks, 9 isn't many.

Latest release from OSPRI, link to results in the bulletin: https://www.ospri.co.nz/tb-and-pest-...worth-station/

Originally Posted by burtonator

from the info i have been told, there is "a lot" more dead deer than they are saying.
I have personally not seen them but i trust info and I suspect we are not getting told the whole story

Ive heard the same. You cant believe anything OSPRI says . When it comes to 1080 theres always such BS fed to the public from them and DOC.
Its a fact that after a operration its very difficult to find every dead deer. Its clearly way more than 7, anyone with half a brain knows this.
Hopefully the repellant has worked better than without (quite likely) but knowing OSPRI in the past this report is like the Russian election.

Yes, they say its a true and fair and correct report but i have no doubt its rigged in there favour and the whole facts are ...well, lets just say not what it seems