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Ferret and Stoat Research in New Zealand - References

The following references provide more information on ferrets and their control.

Some articles and the summaries of formal papers are also available on this site.

Topic Areas

Ferret biology/ ecology
Models/ population dynamics
Ferrets and Tb
Stoats
Ferret control
Managing people and information in mustelid control
Social acceptability of control methods

Ferret biology and ecology (home range, diet, etc.)

Byrom, A. E. 2002: Dispersal and survival of juvenile feral ferrets Mustela furo in New Zealand. Journal of Applied Ecology 39: 67-78. [popular article on p.1 (1.27MB PDF file)][Abstract]

Caley, P., L. M. McElrea, Hone, J. 2002: Mortality rates of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) in New Zealand. Wildlife Research 29: 323-328.

Caley, P.; Morriss, G. 2001: Summer/autumn movements and mortality rates of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) at a farmland site in North Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 25: 53-60.

Clapperton, B. K. 2001: Advances in New Zealand mammology 1990-2000: Feral Ferret. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 31(1): 185-203.

King, C. M.; Flux, M.; Innes, J. G.; Fitzgerald, B. M. 1996: Population biology of small mammals in Pureora Forest Park: 1. Carnivores (Mustela erminea, M. furo, M. nivalis, and Felis catus). New Zealand Journal of Ecology 20: 241-251.

Lavers, R. B. 1973. Aspects of the ecology of the ferret, Mustela putorius forma furo L., at Pukepuke Lagoon. Proceedings of the New Zealand Ecological Society 20: 7-12.

Lavers, R. B.; Clapperton, B.K. 1990: Ferret. In: C. M. King (Ed.), The handbook of New Zealand mammals. Oxford University Press, Auckland, New Zealand. Pp. 320-330.

Medina-Vogel, G. 1998: Intrasexual territoriality and the spatial and social behaviour of captive feral ferrets (Mustela furo L., Carnivora: Mustelidae). Unpublished PhD thesis, Lincoln University, New Zealand.

Medina-Vogel, G.; Hickling, G. J.; Clapperton, B. K. 2000: Assessing spatial activity in captive feral ferrets, Mustela furo L., (Carnivora: Mustelidae). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 27: 75-83.

Moller, H.; Norbury, G.; King, C. M. 1996. Ecological and behavioural constraints to effective control of ferrets (Mustela furo). In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 54-68.

Moors P. J.; Lavers R. B. 1981: Movements and home range of ferrets (Mustela furo) at Pukepuke Lagoon, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 8: 413423.

Morley, C. G. 1999: The ecology and behaviour of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) in Canterbury farmland, New Zealand. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Morley, C. G. 2002L: Ferret (Mustela furo) abundance, survival, and recruitment on farmland in North Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 29: 23-31.

Murphy, E. C. 1996: Ferrets as threats to conservation values. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 48-51.

Norbury, G.; McGlinchy, A. 1996. The impact of rabbit control on predator sightings in the semi-arid high country of the South Island, New Zealand. Wildlife Research 23: 93-97. [Abstract]

Norbury, G.; Heyward, R. 1996. The response of ferrets to rabbit control. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. The Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 30-33.

Norbury, G. L.; Norbury, D. C.; Heyward, R. P. 1998a: Space use and denning behaviour of wild ferrets and cats. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 22(2): 149-159.

Norbury, G. L.; Norbury, D. C.; Heyward, R.P . 1998b: Behavioral responses of two predator species to sudden declines in primary prey. Journal of Wildlife Management 82: 45-58.

Ragg, J. R. 1998: Intraspecific and seasonal differences in the diet of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) in a pastoral habitat, East Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 22: 113-119.

Robson, D. L. 1993: Natural mortality of juvenile rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in North Canterbury, New Zealand. Wildlife Research 20: 815-831.

Smith, G. P.; Ragg, J. R.; Moller, H.; Waldrup, K. A. 1995: Diet of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) from pastoral habitats in Otago and Southland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 22: 363-369.

Young, J. B. 1998: Movement patterns of two New Zealand mustelids: Implications for predator pest management. Unpublished MSc thesis, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand.

Models/ population dynamics

Barlow, N. D.; Norbury, G. L. 2001: A simple model for ferret population dynamics and control in semi-arid New Zealand habitats. Wildlife Research 28: 87-94.[Abstract]

King, C. M.; Innes, J. G.; Flux, M.; Kimberley, M. O.; Leathwick, J. R.; Williams, D. S. 1996: Distribution and abundance of small mammals in relation to habitat in Pureora Forest Park. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 20: 215-240.

Morley, C. G. 1999: The ecology and behaviour of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) in Canterbury farmland, New Zealand. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Morley, C. G. 2002: Ferret (Mustela furo) abundance, survival, and recruitment on farmland in North Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 29: 23-31.

Norbury, G. 2001: Conserving dryland lizards by reducing predator-mediated apparent competition and direct competition with introduced rabbits. Journal of Applied Ecology 38: 1350-1361.[Abstract]

Norbury, G.; Heyward, R. 1995. Predator behaviour and some wider ecological issues surrounding rabbit control. Proceedings of the 8th annual conference of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society, Lincoln, P. 44.

Norbury G, Heyward, R. 1996: The response of ferrets to rabbit control. The Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36:30-33.

Norbury, G.; Heyward, R. 1997: Impact of rabbit control on predator ecology. Landcare Research contract report LC9697/138 (Unpublished).

Norbury, G.; McGlinchy, A. 1996: The impact of rabbit control on predator sightings in the semi-arid high country of the South Island, New Zealand. Wildlife Research 23: 93-97.

Norbury, G.; Murphy, E. 1996: Understanding the implications of rabbit calicivirus disease for predator/prey interactions in New Zealand: A review. Landcare Research contract report LC9596/61 (unpublished)

Norbury, G.L.; Norbury, D.C.; Heyward, R.P. 1998: Behavioral responses of two predator species to sudden declines in primary prey. The Journal of Wildlife Management 62(1): 45-58. [Abstract]

Ferrets and Tb

Byrom, A. E. 2001: Ferrets as vectors of bovine Tb in New Zealand: A review. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 61: 60-63.

Caley, P. 1996: The efficacy of trapping for reduced ferret abundance. The Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 73.

Caley, P. 1998: Broad-scale possum and ferret correlates of macroscopic Mycobacterium bovis infection in feral ferret populations. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 46: 157-162.

Caley, P.2000: The role of ferrets as hosts of Mycobacterium bovis. In: Proceedings of the Epidemiology and Animal Health Management Branch Seminar, 23 & 24 November 2000, Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Upper Hutt Publication / Foundation for Continuing Education of the NZ Veterinary Association 205. Palmerston North, Veterinary Continuing Education, Massey University. Pp. 79-86.

Caley, P. Hone. J. 2002: Estimating the force of infection; Mycobacterium bovis infection in feral ferrets Mustela furo in New Zealand. Journal of Animal Ecology 71: 44-54.

Caley, P., Hone, J. Cowan, P. E. 2001: The relationship between prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in feral ferrets and possum abundance. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 49:195-200.

Caley, P.; Morley, C.; Thomas, M. 1998: Effects of ferret control on cattle reactor incidence, ferret Tb prevalence, and rabbit numbers - the North Canterbury ferret control trials. Landcare Research Contract Report LC9899/044, (Unpublished).

Livingstone, P.G. 1996: Overview of the ferret problem. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation: Proceedings of a workshop organised by the Possum and Bovine Tuberculosis Control National Science Strategy Committee 27-28 March 1996. The Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 2-6.

Ragg, J. R. 1997: Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) epidemiology and the ecology of ferrets (Mustela furo) on New Zealand farmland. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Ragg, J. R. 1998: The denning behaviour of feral ferrets (Mustela furo) in a pastoral habitat, South Island, New Zealand. Journal of Zoology, London 246: 471-477.

Ragg, J. R.; Moller, H.; Waldrup, K. A. 1995: The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) infections in feral populations of cats (Felis catus), ferrets (Mustela furo) and stoats (Mustela erminea) in Otago and Southland, New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 43: 333-337.

Ragg, J. R.; Waldrup, K. A.; Moller, H. 1995: The distribution of gross lesions of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in feral ferrets (Mustela furo) from Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 43: 338-341.

Smith, G. 1994: Ferret (Mustela furo) diet in relation to prey abundance and Tb infection in pastoral habitat of Otago. Unpublished wildlife management report 57, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Walker, R.; Reid, B. T.; Crews, K. B. 1993: Bovine tuberculosis in predators in the Mackenzie Basin. Surveillance 20: 11-14.

Stoats

Byrom, A. E. and E. B. Spurr. 2000: Capturing odours of natural prey as lures for stoat control. Landcare Research Contract Report LC9900/131.[Popular article]

King C. M.; Moody J. E.; 1982: The biology of the stoat (Mustela erminea) in the national parks of New Zealand. NZ Journal of Zoology 9: 49-144.

King, C. M.; Griffiths, K.; Murphy, E. C. 2001: Advances in New Zealand mammalogy 1990-2000: Stoat and Weasel. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 31(1):165-183.

Ferret control

Spurr, E. B.; Ragg, J. R.; O'Connor, C. E.; Moller, H.; Morse, C. W. 2000: Seasonal constraints on ferret control. LC9900/112/Ecosystem Consultants Landcare Research contract report (Unpublished).16pp.

Spurr, E. B., O'Connor, C. E., Byrom, A. E., 2001: Review of research on improving the effectiveness of ferret control in winter and spring. Proceedings of the 12th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference: 353-357.

Trapping

Boyd, P. 1996. Vector trapping techniques employed at Haldon. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 71-72.

Byrom, A. E., Spurr, E. B., O'Connor, C. E., 2002: Ferret neophobia to traps. Landcare Research Contract Report LC0102/082 (unpublished) 16 pp.

Byrom, A. E., Spurr, E. B., O'Connor, C. E., 2003: Trap catch of ferrets using live and dead prey as lures. Landcare Research Contract Report LC0203 (unpublished).

Caley, P. 1996: The efficacy of trapping for reducing ferret abundance. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 73.

Hammond, B. 1996: Experience on Mandamus Downs. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 69-70.

Moller, H.; Norbury, G.; King, C.M. 1996: Ecological and behavioural constraints to effective control of ferrets (Mustela furo). In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 54-68.

Rutherford, D. 1996: Experience on Melrose. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 70-71.

Warburton, B.; Poutu, N.; Domigan, D. 2002: Evaluation of the effectiveness of four commercially available traps for killing ferrets. Landcare Research Contract Report LC0203/003 (unpublished).

Scent lures

Clapperton, B. K. 1996. Scent lures for trapping ferrets (Mustela furo L.). In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 74-77.

Spurr, E. B.; Ragg, J. R.; O'Connor, C. E.; Hamilton, W. J.; Moller, H.; Morse, C.W.; Morriss, G. A.; Arnold, G.C.; Clapperton, B.K. 2003: Anal gland scent as a novel, cost-effective method of attracting ferrets. Landcare Research Contract Report LC0203/xx (unpublished and in process).

Poison baiting

Ogilvie, S. C.; Eason, C. T. 1998: Evaluation of iophenoxic acid and rhodamine B for marking feral ferrets (Mustela furo). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 25: 105-108.

Ogilvie, S. C.; Morgan, D. R.; Spurr, E. B.; Meikle, L. M. 1994: Development of baits for control of ferrets. Landcare Research contract report LC9495/01 (Unpublished).

Ogilvie, S. C.; Spurr, E. B.; Eason, C. T.; Young, N. 1996a: Development of a poison baiting strategy for ferrets. The Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 78-84.

Ogilvie, S.C.; Spurr, E. B.; Morgan, D. R. 1995: A bait, bait marker, toxin, and baiting strategy for the control of ferrets. Unpublished report LC9495/114, Landcare Research.

Ogilvie, S. C.; Spurr, E. B.; Young, N.; Eason, C. T. 1996: A field baiting strategy for the control of ferrets. Landcare Research contract report LC9596/129 (Unpublished).

Spurr, E.B.; Ogilvie, S.C.; Eason, C.T.; Morse, C.W.; Young, J. 1997a. A poison-baiting strategy for effective ferret control. Landcare Research contract report LC9697/135 (Unpublished), 17 p.

Spurr, E.B.; Morse, C.W.; Eason, C.T. 1997b. Poison-baiting of ferrets in winter. Landcare Research contract report LC9798/67 (unpublished), 15 p.

Spurr, E.B.; O'Connor, C.E.; Rhodes, A.T.; Eason, C.T. 1999: Feratox? for ferrets. Landcare Research contract report LC9900/25 (unpublished). 14 pp.

Spurr, E.B.; Ragg, J.R.; O'Connor, C.E.; Moller, H.; Morse, C.W. 2000: Seasonal constraints on ferret control. Landcare Research contract report LC9900/112 (unpublished). 24 pp.

Spurr, E.B.; Airey, A.T.; O'Connor, C.E. 2001: Feratox paste for ferrets. Landcare Research contract report LC0102/50 (unpublished). 11 p.

Farmer experience / Ferret hot spots

Boyd, P. 1996. Vector trapping techniques employed at Haldon. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 71-72.

Hammond, B. 1996. Experience on Mandamus Downs. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 69-70.

Rutherford, D. 1996. Experience on Melrose. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 70-71.

Secondary poisoning

Alterio, N. 1996: Secondary poisoning of stoats (Mustela erminea), feral ferrets (Mustela furo), and feral house cats (Felis catus) by the anticoagulant poison, brodifacoum. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 23: 331-338.

Brown, K.; Alterio, N. 1996: Secondary poisoning of ferrets (Mustela furo) and poisoning of other mammalian pests by the anticoagulant poison brodifacoum. In: Ferrets as vectors of tuberculosis and threats to conservation. Royal Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 36: 34-37.

Laas, F.Y.; Forss, D.A.; Godfrey, M.E.R. 1985. Retention of brodifacoum in sheep and excretion in faeces. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 28: 357-359.

Heyward, R.P.; Norbury, G. L. 1999: Secondary poisoning of ferrets and cats after 1080 rabbit poisoning. Wildlife Research 26: 75-80. [Abstract]

Biological control

Norbury, G. 2000: The potential for biological control of stoats (Mustela erminea). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 27: 145-163.

Managing people and information in mustelid control

Allen, W.; Bosch, O.; Kilvington, M.; Oliver, J.; Gilbert, M. 2001. Benefits of collaborative learning for environmental management: Applying the Integrated Systems for Knowledge Management approach to support animal pest control. Environmental Management 27(2): 215-223 [Abstract] [Full paper]

Kilvington, M., Allen, W. and Kravchenko, C. 1999: Improving Farmer Motivation Within Tb Vector Control. Landcare Research Contract Report: LC9899/110 [Summary][Full report]

Social Acceptability of control methods

Fitzgerald, G.; Fitzgerald, N.; Wilkinson, R. 2002: Social acceptability of stoats and stoat control methods: Focus group findings. Science for Conservation 207. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. [Abstract]