Vertebrate pests pose a serious threat to New Zealand's biodiversity through the damage they inflict on fauna and flora, and to our national economy through spreading disease, notably tuberculosis, to farm stock.

Our vertebrate pests are mainly introduced species and include:

• brush tailed possums
• feral cats
• mustelids (stoats, ferrets & weasels)
• rats (Norway, ship & kiore)
• wallabies
• rabbits & hares
• feral pigs
• deer (several species)
• mice
• feral goats
• magpies & rooks

This section is under development but, in the meantime, you will find some information about these species in our publications on pest control.