Mamaku fowl killers ferreted out

Judy Wilson with her chickens that have been killed on her Mamaku property.

Mamaku has a pest problem on its hands, after it was revealed ferrets were behind the attacks that killed more than 30 chickens and 10 ducks in the area.

On January 4 the Rotorua Daily Post reported 17 of Mamaku couple Judy and Terry Wilson's chickens had been killed on their Rata St property after they came home from holiday.

Initially the couple had thought a person or group of people were behind the attacks because of the way the chickens had been killed and because the door to the chicken coop, which was usually kept closed, was found wide open.

However, about a week after the attacks, a neighbour spotted a group of ferrets eating the remains of one of the chickens. Rotorua Canopy Tours conservation manager Gary Coker said it was common for ferrets to kill and later come back to eat the remains of their prey.

He said he was sure ferrets were behind the killings of 33 chickens and 11 ducks in the area, including the 17 chickens that belonged to Mr and Mrs Wilson.

"These are the culprits, they may be cute but they're dangerous," he said.

Mr Coker was first alerted about the killings by Environment Bay of Plenty, before he decided to set traps in the area to catch the pests.

"I think it's a good way to help Mamaku locals out and it helps protect the native birdlife in the area too.

"If this is what they're doing on someone's farm, imagine the damage they are doing out in the forests, to our native birdlife."

Since setting out five traps just over a week ago, Mr Coker has caught five ferrets.

Mrs Wilson praised Mr Coker for his efforts and said she was relieved to know the attacks were not the result of something more sinister.

"It's just such a relief, to know it was caused by an animal and not someone doing something silly and terrible. It's good to know."

Mrs Wilson said she will now lock her chickens in the coop at night to make sure ferrets cannot get inside.