Pest Control

We manage pests on Council-owned or managed land. This includes activities such as rabbit control, annual goat culls, regular broom removal and wasp nest destruction. 

If you come across pests on Council-owned or managed land, please let us know. You can contact us by phone on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka) or use the online reporting form below.

Rabbit control operations may be carried out by QLDC, the Department of Conservation (DOC), Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and private landowners.

Information about QLDC rabbit control operations, including current locations, timings and FAQs, is available on the tiles above. If you have a question or concern about a pindone operation, please contact the organisation responsible for managing the land where the operation is taking place. If you're unsure who manages the land, use the QLDC Property Map to check land ownership.

QLDC undertakes rabbit control on Council-owned and managed land where budget allows and works with neighbouring landowners, community groups and agencies to support coordinated pest management across the district. As with all landowners, QLDC must comply with the Otago Regional Council's Regional Pest Management Plan.

Rabbit control methods may include baiting, shooting, working dogs and fencing. In urban areas, options can be limited due to the proximity of homes and public spaces. Rabbit-proof fencing is often one of the most effective ways to deter rabbits from residential properties.

For information on current and past rabbit control operations, select one of the tiles above.

Property owners are responsible for controlling pests on their own land, including rabbits, goats, possums, feral cats, and pest plants such as broom. Guidance on pest management responsibilities can be found in the Otago Regional Council Pest Management Plan.

QLDC does not carry out rabbit or pest control on private property.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) leads regional pest management and has developed a Pest Management Plan that targets a range of pest plants and animals across Otago.   

You can find out more on the ORC website:

Pest plant control works on Council-owned and managed land are identified through community requests and inspections. These works are prioritised and scheduled by QLDC and our maintenance contractors throughout the year.

We also carry out a proactive pest plant control programme aligned with the Otago Regional Council's Regional Pest Management Plan. This programme is reviewed annually, with works undertaken during the growing season.

A report on our reactive and preventative pest plant control programme is available below.

Introduced wasps are a significant pest which harm our native birds and insects and pose a risk to people.

Reusable and highly effective Wasp Dome Traps are available to purchase at the subsidised price of $15 each. 

These reusable traps are highly effective.

Wasp lure is not included but can be easily made using the recipe below and placing inside the trap.

To purchase a trap, please call 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka) or visit your nearest Council office.   

If you come across stock wandering on public roads, please call us on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka). We will arrange for an Animal Control Officer to get them to safety.

Please don't feed ducks and geese.

Feeding ducks and geese encourages them to gather in large numbers, which can lead to water quality issues caused by bird droppings, including bacteria such as E. coli and Campylobacter.

We encourage people not to feed waterfowl and are working to discourage non-native goose species, particularly Canada geese in Wānaka and greylag geese at Lake Hayes.