The Council provides the community with an animal control service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Find out what the Council can do about wandering animals or pests in public places.
Bees
For council property, parks and reserves please contact our customer services team on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wanaka). They will put in a request for service and sent the appropriate contractor to have them removed.
On private land:
Wild hives are best removed by a bee keeper or by a professional pest control operator (see the Yellow Pages under Pest Control).
Swarms of bees forming on trees or power poles will usually move on within a couple of days without any need for control. If swarms cannot be left to disperse on their own, a professional pest control operator will be able to remove the swarm (see the Yellow Pages under Pest Control).
Alternatively, if you choose to control the swarm yourself, 1 cup of dish washing detergent mixed with 5 litres of cold water in a garden sprayer set to a fine mist can be used. Wearing protective clothing, gently mist the swarm with the water and detergent mixture. This will cool the outer bees causing them to drop off the swarm. Continue spraying until the entire swarm has been treated.
Goats wandering on roads or council land, but excluding private property
Please contact our customer services team immediately on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wanaka). They will put in a request for service and send the appropriate contractor to have them removed.
Rabbits and Possums on Council land
Please contact our customer services team on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wanaka). They will put in a request for service and send the appropriate contractor to have them removed.
Rabbits, Possums and stoats on any other land
Please contact Otago Regional Council who will be able to provide helpful information on pest removal.
Stock on public roads
If you come across stock wandering on public roads, please contact our customer services team immediately on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wanaka). They will arrange for an animal control officer to get them to safety.
Wasps
For Council property, parks and reserves please contact our customer services team on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wanaka). They will put in a request for service and send the appropriate contractor to have them removed.
On private land:
Wasp poison in a powder form is available from the following places:
• The Shotover Garden Centre (Queenstown) phone 03 442 2082.
• Mitre 10 Queenstown phone 03 442 2442.
• The Wanaka Garden Centre 03 443 7846.
Alternatively you can contact Mr Eeon Ryan phone 442 1263. Mr Ryan removes wasps in Arrowtown, however if travel is required or the wasps are difficult to remove, he may charge for his services.
How to use the wasp poison
Poison is supplied in a sachet (good for one average sized nest). Please ensure you wear gloves and a mask when handling the poison.
The most efficient way to use the powder is to pour it into the hole of the nest in the evening when the wasps go to sleep. If this is not possible, another way is to place the poison somewhere that the wasps must walk over it. This way means that they will carry the poison to the nest themselves.
Feral cats
Feral cats on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. Contact your local vet for assistance – they may be able to lend you a trap.