By KINGSLEY FIELD
Scientists have found traces of one the country's most widely used pest poisons in kiwi and other native species.
The Department of Conservation is slashing its use of Brodifacoum after traces of it were found in kiwi, weka and morepork.
Concentrations of the poison were also present in the livers
of wild pig and deer in areas where it has been used.
This week, the department is issuing instructions to staff to begin cutting use of the poison on the mainland. It may cut its use by up to 80 per cent in the next two years.
The Pesticides Board and the Ministry of Agriculture are expected to announce within a few days what they will do about the poison.
Brodifacoum, available here since 1992, is sold over the counter as Talon and is also marketed as Pestoff.
Considerably more potent than its predecessor Warfarin, the rodenticide has been used world-wide since the 1970s, particularly for the control of rats.
Nationally about 300 tonnes are used a year. The Department of Conservation uses about 10 per cent.
Grant Baker, its spokesman on animal pest projects, said: "Although the real risk is hard to measure, DoC is concerned about the possible impacts ... on native species exposed to Brodifacoum, and on people who eat game such as pigs or deer.
"Brodifacoum is persistent in living animals for at least nine months, which means small doses can build up over time.
"Tests by MAF have shown Brodifacoum in wild pigs at packing houses, and DoC tests have also shown it in non-target species such as pigs, deer, weka, kiwi and moreporks."
Tests had shown that 50 to 60 percent of pigs in Brodifacoum-baited areas have varying levels of the poison. Hunters especially could be affected if they ate the pig liver.
Because of its anti-coagulant properties, the poison could be harmful to people with heart problems or high blood pressure.
Unfortunately, the department is facing one of the worst rodent plagues in the bush for more than a decade and the poison had been an effective tool in its arsenal.
