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Kōrero: Introduced animal pests

Three mustelids

Image
Three mustelids

Mustelids (left to right: weasel, ferret and stoat) were introduced to New Zealand in the 1870s and 1880s to control rabbits. However, all three have become pests in their own right. By far the worst, in terms of their predations on native species, are stoats, followed by ferrets. Weasels are thought to have been less successful in adapting to New Zealand conditions.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10035327

by D. Garrick

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Bob Brockie, Introduced animal pests – Stoats and cats, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/10129/three-mustelids (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Bob Brockie, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.