Greater Wellington warns dog owners to avoid the Orongorongo River and Wainuiomata Beach following heavy rain

As a precaution, Greater Wellington is warning dog owners to keep their dogs away from the Orongorongo River and Wainuiomata beach until council staff have checked for and removed any potential dead possums poisoned with 1080 that may have come down river. 

Heavy rain during the evening of Monday 22 September may have washed dead possum poisoned with 1080 down the Orongorongo River, following a possum control operation on Friday 15 August in the Wainuiomata-Orongorongo Forest. 

Greater Wellington Environmental Operations Manager Myfanwy Hill said that any dead possums are not a threat to people but would still be poisonous to dogs. 

“While people aren’t at risk from these poisoned carcasses, we take the threat to dogs very seriously. 

“We’re putting up warning signs along beaches at the end of Coast Road and along the track entrances to the Orongorongo River today.  As soon as the water level has dropped, we will check for (and remove where practicable) any carcasses over the coming days. 

“We urge dog owners to avoid all beaches at the end of Coast Road, and the Orongorongo Riverbed. Anyone that does decide to take the risk and walk their dog in these areas should keep their animals close on a lead and not allow them to scavenge until warning signs have been taken down.”  

This warning to dog owners could be in place for up to four months, depending on how long it takes for the possum carcasses to naturally decay.   

If dogs have any contact with a dead possum in the vicinity of the Orongorongo River and Wainuiomata Beach, owners should encourage their dog to vomit and visit the nearest vet immediately. 

For more information on this operation and the precautions you can take to ensure safety for you and your pets, visit our 1080 operations page.