Watch out for wallabies _ and we're not talking about George Gregan.
If you spot any of the marsupials on the roads in and out of Rotorua, Environment Bay of Plenty wants to hear about it.
The regional council, along with Environment Waikato and the Department of Conservation, is about to
start long-term control operations but first they have to map the distribution of wallabies in the region.
Environment Bay of Plenty pest animal co-ordinator Greg Corbett said dama wallabies were pests, released into the Rotorua district nearly a century ago. He now wants to find out where exactly they are and wants help from the public.
``We're not looking at numbers, we're looking at where they are and where they aren't,'' Mr Corbett said.
The highest density of wallabies is around lakes Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera. However, wallabies are sighted regularly within a 170,000ha block that starts about 10km from the coast and reaches inland to the Kaingaroa Forest boundary near the Taupo highway. State Highway 33 forms the boundary on the western side while the known eastern limits are Kawerau and Rerewhakaaitu.
Mr Corbett wants people to call Environment Bay of Plenty if they see wallabies
as the information will help provide an idea of wallaby distribution and population density.
Dama wallabies are more common in the Central North Island and Mr Corbett said he did not want them to spread into areas like Te Urewera National Park where they could threaten native trees and shrubs, as well as New Zealand's native insects, birds and reptiles by taking away their food.
Appropriate pest control measures will be decided once the distribution of wallabies has been defined.
Call Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267)
