DOC turns tables on canny goats

DEADLY FRIEND: A judas goat, rigged with radio tracker, all set to lead hunters to other feral goats in the Ruahine Forest Park.

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There's a real case of fatal attraction developing in the heights of the southern Ruahine Ranges.

The Conservation Department is using "Judas goats" in an operation to help track wild goats and prevent their spread northward through the Ruahine Forest Park.

"Goats are social creatures and tend to search for other goats to herd with," said community relations ranger Kelly Stratford yesterday.

"Judas goats give away the location of the herd through radio-tags so hunters can shoot any animals they have joined up with.

"So far, tracking has been carried out around Wharite and Te Ekaou Hut, resulting in five kills," said Ms Stratford.

These were attributed to the fatal charms of Annie the nanny.

She has since been retired and her place taken by two males, with a third likely to join the team later this spring. The "judases" are captured feral goats.

Pohangina Field Centre supervisor Stephen Robson said the judas goat programme had been run for several years in south-west Ruahine Forest Park.

Goat control was introduced to prevent their northward spread into previously goat-free areas of the park, such as the western side of the range north of Diggers (Makawakawa) catchment. DOC also didn't want them eating too much vegetation.

The movements of the goats through the park can also be logged so DOC staff can build up a picture of where they are living over longer periods.

"Judas goats are only really effective in this thick bush country when goat numbers are very low, as in the southern Ruahines," said Mr Robson.

DOC was keen to hear from recreational hunters who might see goats in the Ruahines.

The sightings would help control them.

Goat sightings can be reported to DOC's Palmerston North Office, (06) 350-9700, or Pohangina Field Centre, (06) 328-4732.

- © Fairfax NZ News