As far as native birds being affected by feral or other ferrets and/or
feral ferret hybrids (stoat crosses or polecat crosses), Dr King
(weasel and stoat expert) has stated on numerous occasions that no
native NZ bird populations have been impacted even close to the point
of extinction by the mustelids. Also, the greatest threat to NZ native
wildlife now comes in the form of a transplant from Australia. a small
species of Bush Possum. it's arboreal as well and is causing massive
problems, some of which are being blamed on the "ferrets". I know
ornithology experts on sea birds who have visited NZ and spoken with
biologists there and they point to the possum as being the number 1
public enemy of native wildlife. Not to discount the problems NZ is
encountering but once again, people caused the issue to develop by
forcibly introducing a non native species to an ISLAND ECOLOGY with no
native predators. AND NZ Game and Fish or equivalent at the time was
complicit in doing so. If they think rabbits were a problem, getting
rid of the possum will be nearly impossible unless it eats itself out
of a niche. Experts in ecology need to query Dr King and folks like
Bob Church for relevant research regarding the ferret issue in NZ as
CA will continue to use this as ammo to keep the domestic ferret on
the restricted list in that "ecotopia".

[Posted in FML 7030]