Would you know how to identify Marlborough’s most concerning pests?
Senior Biosecurity Advisor Julia Andrews is on a mission to highlight a selection of the region’s invasive species to the public each month as part of the council’s new ‘Pest Watch’ initiative.
She says the initiative aims to raise awareness of species that pose a threat to our environment, agriculture and economy, while encouraging people to report sightings to the council.
“We’re trying to engage and educate and communicate with people...basically, it’s to have eyes out in our community and to contact us.”
‘Pest Watch’ launched in September with a focus on Chilean needle grass, boneseed, pink ragwort and rooks.
Julia says some pests are already established in Marlborough, meaning the focus is on managing their spread, while others could be controlled or eradicated if detected early.
Chilean needle grass is one of the region’s more widespread concerns as it can spread through stock, people, vehicles and machinery. Its sharp seeds can cause problems for livestock, penetrating through their skin, which causes “significant losses” for animal production, she explains.
Machinery moving between properties can be one potential pathway for the pest to spread, she adds.
“If there was a contractor mowing a vineyard that had Chilean needle grass, and they rang up and said, ‘Hey, look, I’ve just found some Chilean needle grass in this vineyard. What do I do?’ We’d say, ‘You need to go down and wash down your equipment before moving between properties.’
“That’s pathway management.”
Other pests being highlighted, such as pink ragwort, pose different risks.
The species has recently been found in the Marlborough Sounds and it can spread rapidly and is poisonous to livestock. Julia says early reporting could give the council a chance to contain an isolated infestation before it spreads more widely.
“If it’s found early, we can prevent the spread throughout the wider region,” she says.
Rooks are another species of concern, as they create large rookeries that cause issues for agricultural land. They are not currently established in Marlborough but have been reported in the region in the past, Julia says.
She stresses that residents should not attempt to control rooks themselves.
The council’s biosecurity team will always determine what action needs to be taken depending on the species, which may include further investigation or providing advice to landowners.
Julia says the Pest Watch initiative grew out of her role in raising awareness of biosecurity issues after she joined the team about two months ago.
“We aim to highlight some key species that could be a high risk to Marlborough economy, environment or are a high spread risk.”
Each month, different pests will be highlighted via the council’s social media, newsletters and local advertisements, with residents encouraged to learn what they look like and report anything suspicious to the biosecurity team.
