Monday, August 31, 2009
Greater Wellington Regional Council is warning dog owners to keep their dogs away from the Hutt River and Wellington Harbour beaches until its staff have checked these areas for possum carcasses poisoned with 1080.
Recent heavy rain may have washed possum carcasses poisoned with 1080, from a 7 August possum control north of Upper Hutt, down the Hutt River and into Wellington Harbour. Greater Wellington has staff checking beaches from Petone to Eastbourne and out to Pencarrow.
Once the level of the Hutt River has gone down, staff will be checking both sides for possum carcasses from Te Marua to Petone. The checks are expected to take until the end of Wednesday 2 September. Staff will be placing warning signs in all these areas today. GWRC is urging dog owners to avoid all eastern harbour beaches from Petone to Pencarrow, and the Hutt Riverbed.
Anyone walking their dog near the harbour beaches and Hutt Riverbed should keep their animals close on a lead, until warning signs have been taken down. This could be up to two months depending on how long it takes for the possum carcasses to breakdown. If dogs have any contact with possum carcasses in the vicinity of those areas, owners should get their dog to vomit and take it to a vet urgently.