The Department of Conservation is appealing for information on the poisoning of black-billed gulls in Te Anau this January. Photo: DOCTen threatened black-billed gulls are dead after being poisoned by a rapid-acting bird control agent on the Te Anau lakefront. Black-billed gulls are Protected Species under the Wildlife Act 1953, and it is an offence to hunt, kill, catch or possess them without authorisation. Te Anau operations manager John Lucas said the deaths were a disappointing blow for the Te Anau population. "They primarily eat invertebrates and fish and are less likely to be found scavenging than other gull species.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 27, 2026 01:33 UTC