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Story: Introduced animal pests

Three mustelids

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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.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10035327

by D. Garrick

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How to cite this page

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

Story by Bob Brockie, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.