Wallabies spotted in Otago wilderness

Wallabies may be spreading in Otago. Photo / Thinkstock

Wallabies have been sighted in Otago for the second time in two years, prompting more active surveillance and detection of the pests.

Otago Regional Council staff have been advised by hunters in the Lindis Pass area that a wallaby was shot more than two months ago on Shirlmar Station, near Tarras.

Another wallaby was seen by a shooter on nearby Maryvale Station, also in the Lindis Pass.

The Bennett wallaby has been established in the Waimate region for more than a century and has spread to the Mackenzie Country.

They graze on grass, small trees and shrubs, putting forestry plantation, pine seedlings pasture and native plants at risk.

Environmental services manager Martin King said an inspection by council staff failed to find any sign of wallabies in those areas but the reports were from a reliable source.

"We'll be doing more surveillance in these areas to see if we can find any sign of them."

A staff member with a dog trained to "sniff out wallaby" would be used first. Then they would look at doing some ranging in the snow when the pests were easier to track, he said.

"Wallaby numbers in the Otematata areas are on the increase considerably so it is a concern."

It was possible wallabies could have been released into the area, Mr King said.

"You can't assume it's natural spread."

Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the council's pest strategy called for total eradication of wallaby.

"We don't want them to get a foothold in the region. It's a bit of a concern. They're very elusive and very quick."

In 2010, there were sightings of eight wallabies in the Clear Stream area on the northern flanks of the Hawkdun Range.

Council chief executive Graeme Martin said in a report going to council today (WED) that staff had spoken to Environment Canterbury about their wallaby concerns.

"Closer and more formal arrangement will be developed around the spread and control of wallaby, particularly in field skills, to detect and eradicate the pest in new locations along and across the regional boundary."