Dogs

Like cats, dogs are also skilled and natural hunters. Their hunting skills and keen sense of smell can be the death of native birds, such as the kiwi. Stray and feral dogs are a danger to native wildlife. Pet dogs that are not controlled can also be pests.

Across New Zealand, dogs mainly affect kiwi, weka, rail and penguins. In 1987 a dog was loose in the Waitangi State Forest in the Bay of Islands for six weeks. By the time it was caught, as many as 500 of the 900 kiwi living there had been killed.

Many dogs are used to help pig-hunters and these dogs often pose a threat to kiwi.

In Northland dogs are the number one kiwi killer. Please don't let your dog add to the problem.

What can you do?:

• Provide your dog with a roomy pen/kennel so it is not free to roam outside your property.
• Exercise dogs only designated areas
• Keep your dog on a lead
• Be aware of ground-nesting birds, such as the kiwi, and keep your dog away from these nesting areas

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