The Dunedin City Council has told a Tb eradication group to remove traps next to popular walking tracks after concern they put people and dogs at risk.
Opoho resident Jura Fearnley said she was worried leg hold traps being placed close to tracks in Signal Hill reserve could put dogs and children at risk during the busy holiday season.
During the holiday season, the tracks were busy with young mountain bikers, many of whom did not have adult supervision.
"If any of these young cyclists investigate or pick up a trap, or attempt to free a live possum, they could end up with badly injured fingers," Ms Fearnley said.
Since Ms Fearnley complained, the council had informed government-funded Ospri, which manages New Zealand’s programme aimed at stopping Tb spreading to livestock, to remove the traps from close to the tracks.
Council parks operations manager Hamish Black said Ospri had been instructed to ensure their contractor took more "care and consideration when placing traps in the future".
An Ospri spokesman said the laying of traps was a crucial part of its work aimed at eradicating Tb.
"Signal Hill is an important area in the work to eradicate Tb given its close proximity to an area where six possums infected with the disease have been found. Because of this, it is important to trap and remove the risk of spreading disease to farmed livestock.
"Several herds have been infected this year."
It had moved the traps as a result of the contact from the council and no more traps would be set over the Christmas break.
The traps were the standard trap for possum control in New Zealand and signs warned track users and dog owners of their presence.
"We also encourage walkers to stick to the tracks and make sure dogs are under control while possum control is being undertaken."
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Comments
Why is anyone using leg traps these days anyway?
There are other, more humane options. Is it not immoral to use a method that inflicts more pain and suffering than necessary?
Yes, possums are pests. But that does not mean they should be treated cruelly. Imagine the outcry if we killed cows the same way: randomly trap them in a leg hold for hours or days, till someone turns up and shoots them. If they are lucky, it is a head shot, but they will be thrashing around, so probably not.
If it is not okay for one species, why is it OK for another? Legholds should be banned.