Cats will be cats
Kiwis love cats - at least 35% of households have at least one! Natural hunters, they can easily undo your hard work making space for wildlife by preying on birds and lizards. Pet cats are known to travel huge distances in search of food. To keep your backyard (and neighbourhood!) wildlife safer if you have a cat you can:
- Keep it inside where possible, especially at night time.
- Get it desexed - kittens without homes become wild cats.
- Fit a collar with bell, or a 'Birds be Safe' scrunchie to help warn birds.
- Play with your cat - 10 minutes a day can reduce their hunting instincts.
- Feed them a grain free diet - this can also reduce their hunting instincts
If you don't have a cat, your neighbours most probably do! Strike up a conversation with them if you notice their cat visiting your local walkway or even your garden and preying on birds. Share with them what you have learnt and encourage them to make space for nature too.
Dogs will be dogs
Almost as many NZ households have dogs as cats - with now at least 35% of households having a pet dog. Although not all dogs are natural hunters, many of them will chase native fauna for fun. Dogs are the number 1 predator of adult kiwi, and in 1987 1 German Shepherd is thought to have killed 500 kiwi!
At home, ensure that your dog has a good fenced area, and plenty of enrichment.
When you are out and about keep your dog on leash, especially in reserves that indicate dogs must be on leash. Most of the time this is for the protection of wildlife. Dogs are not allowed on many conservation estates without a permit - given the damage that they can do.
If you are in an area that is lucky enough to have kiwi - investigate undertaking kiwi aversion training with your pet.
