New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Residues of brodifacoum and other anticoagulant pesticides in
target and non-target species, Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand
E. B. Spurr1
M. J. Maitland2
G. E. Taylor2
G. R. G. Wright1
C. D. Radford1
L. E. Brown1
1Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
2Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 55
St Arnaud 7180, New Zealand
spurre@landcareresearch.co.nz
Abstract Cereal-based bait containing 20 ppm
brodifacoum was used in bait stations continuously from December 1997
to August 2000 in the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area, for
controlling brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), ship rat (Rattus
rattus), and house mouse (Mus musculus) populations.
Concurrently (and before and after), baits containing brodifacoum,
bromadiolone, flocoumafen, coumatetralyl, or warfarin were also used in
St Arnaud village and on farms immediately adjacent to the project
area. Brodifacoum residues were detected in the livers of 234 mammals
from eight species, and two birds from two species captured alive, and
a further seven birds from five species found dead in the project area
(cause of death unknown). The highest concentration of brodifacoum
residues in mammalian livers was recorded during the period brodifacoum
was used in the project area. However, residues were present in the
livers of some individuals at least 24 months after brodifacoum
use in the project area stopped. These residues may have persisted in
animals surviving brodifacoum use in the project area, and/or been
transported into the area by animals moving to and from the adjacent
village and farms, where brodifacoum use continued. Residues of
flocoumafen, coumatetralyl, or warfarin, used only in the village and
on farms, were also detected in the livers of animals captured up to at
least 8 km from the nearest source. The results concur with other
studies cautioning against indiscriminate or prolonged use of
persistent anticoagulants for vertebrate pest control. However, the
risks from such pesticides must be balanced against the demonstrable
benefits of reducing pest abundance.
Keywords anticoagulants; brodifacoum; non-target
species; vertebrate pest control
Z05007; Received 8 March 2005; accepted 23 July 2005; Online
publication date 24 August 2005
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2005, Vol. 32: 237–249
0301–4223/05/3204–0237 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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