Zealandia, the famous eco-sanctuary in Wellington, is once again celebrating being weasel-free after five of the small predators were caught sneaking inside.
In June, sanctuary rangers found five dead weasels in traps placed after a storm in May knocked a tree onto the predator-proof fence. The fallen tree may have let the weasels slip into the protected area.
This was no ordinary incursion. “Finding five weasels was confronting,” Zealandia said, explaining that past weasel visits had only involved one at a time.
To confirm that no weasels remained, mustelid-detection dog Wero and handler Brad Windust searched the valley for two full days. They found no signs of any more intruders. Zealandia staff and volunteers had already spent hundreds of hours tracking and trapping the animals.
“While thermal cameras and traps are helpful, we feel much more confident now that Wero and Brad have checked the area,” the team said, thanking the duo for their work.
Chief executive Danielle Shanahan explained that, although weasels are the least harmful of the mustelid family — which includes ferrets and stoats — they can still pose a threat. Thankfully, it isn’t breeding season, so bird nests were not at high risk.
Shanahan added that weasels are tricky to catch because they are small and light, meaning they often slip past standard traps. A female weasel can squeeze through a hole as small as a thumb.
Zealandia says this invasion shows that more research is needed on weasel behavior and better protection tools may be required. A rat detection dog will check the valley again next month to make sure other pests haven’t gotten in.
