Dogs kill little blue penguins

The deaths of two little blue penguins/kororā in Tasman have led to infringement notice fees totalling $1,400 for two dog owners, and a plea to keep dogs under control.

One dog killed a little blue penguin at Observation Bay on the Abel Tasman coast in an area where dogs are banned, resulting in Department of Conservation (DOC) infringement notice fees of $1,200. The family had taken the dog to the beach and the dog had gone into bush and returned with the penguin in its mouth.

Another dog owner failed to control their dog which pulled a penguin out of a burrow at Tapu Bay. The owner immediately arranged for the penguin to receive veterinary treatment, but it died 12 hours later. Dogs are allowed off-lead at Tapu Bay but under control and Tasman District Council issued an infringement notice fee of $200.

DOC is urging dog owners to ensure they only take dogs where they are allowed and to keep their dogs under control.

DOC Motueka biodiversity ranger, Leon Everett, says dog owners are responsible for where they can take their dogs, dog control rules and controlling their dogs to keep native wildlife safe.

“It’s a legal requirement for dog owners to carry a lead in public, even in an off-lead area. Dog owners should also be able to call their dog back straight away, not only to protect wildlife, but also to keep their dog safe.

“On the beach, walk with dogs on the wet sand to avoid little blue penguin burrows in cliff faces and rocky banks and to prevent disturbing shorebird nesting areas in sand dunes or around driftwood. Stay clear of groups of resting shorebirds to avoid stressing them.”

He says little blue penguins are not only vulnerable moving between the sea and their nests at dawn and dusk, but also in their nests.

The penguins and other ground-dwelling native birds can’t escape dogs easily and he says it only takes a second for a dog to cause a fatal injury to a penguin.