Hunters warned after cyanide paste on forest track kills dog

A dog belonging to Rotorua woman Angela Field's partner was lucky to survive after licking some of the blue-coloured cyanide paste on the track, off 5 Mile Gate, off State Highway 5.
A sign subsequently put up by a member of the public warning others about the poison stated their dog died after ingesting some of the cyanide.
Forest Risk manager at Timberlands, Colin Maunder, could not be reached for comment but Rotorua police Senior Sergeant Malcolm Collins said two possum hunters from outside the district had admitted last week to laying the poison. Police were called to the forest last Friday night after Timberlands security caught the two men near 5 Mile Gate. They admitted to laying cyanide paste traps for possums in the area.
"They were trespassed from the forest by Timberlands security. The possum skins were collected and destroyed," Mr Collins said.
"Their vehicles were searched, they were also searched and no further poison was found. They co-operated with security and showed them where they had laid poison and they assisted in removing it."
Mr Collins said the pair, who were let off with a warning, were leaving Rotorua that night.
Ms Field told The Daily Post her partner noticed a couple of dead possums when walking his dogs in the forest last Thursday.
He initially thought a dog had killed the possums but then saw more dead possums further along the track, Ms Field said.
Alarmed, he called the dogs and turned back but one of the dogs had already started licking at something on the track.
"On the way out of the track the dog was weaving off the track and falling into the bushes," Ms Field said.
The dog then stopped in the middle of the track. It appeared to have gone blind and had to be led out of the forest. Fortunately, it was taken to the vet in time to be saved.
That same day Ms Field said her partner rang Timberlands, which manages the forest, to let them know there was poison on the track. He was told the company was running no poisoning operation in the area but went to check.
Her partner went out again on Saturday to see if any warning signs had been put up.
Ms Field said there was no warning sign from Timberlands but there was a makeshift sign put up by a member of the public. Whoever wrote the sign said their dog had been poisoned and died.
Ms Field called Timberlands on Monday and was told they believed they had removed all the poison baits on Friday.
"It's a terrifying thing because we have taken our kids in there," she said.
"We used to walk there regularly but whether we will again is another story."