Argentine ant sniffer dog averts potential disaster on Matiu / Somes Island (www.rnz.co.nz)

submitted 7 months ago by thevoyagekayaking@lemmy.nz to c/newzealand@lemmy.nz

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I didn't actually know they were building a new wharf on Somes, it's great that the island is getting more infrastructure. And great they caught the ants, obviously.

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[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 7 points 7 months ago

This is really cool that we do this, and even cooler that the dogs can be trained to do this!

[-] thevoyagekayaking@lemmy.nz 5 points 7 months ago

And such a cute dog, too.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 7 months ago

Haha yes, but spaniels have a reputation. My vet friend used to say he would rather see a pit bull than a spaniel!

[-] liv@lemmy.nz 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Makes sense, pittys tend to be earnest dogs who are only dangerous when they get the wrong end of the stick. Spaniels tend to have decided that since they have teeth they won't take shit from kids and vets.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 7 months ago

Yeah from what I understand, pit bulls are dangerous because of their power and their "gameness", I think is the term. Not because of their temperament, which I think there are no shortage of families with pit bulls who would say their dogs are gentle and forgiving with their kids.

I don't know anyone willing to defend spaniels as family dogs 😆

[-] Rangelus@lemmy.nz 6 points 7 months ago

Fuck Argentine ants. They bite too.

[-] pluckytree@lemmy.nz 3 points 7 months ago

Are the ants from somewhere else in New Zealand or imported?

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 4 points 7 months ago

I'm not sure specifically about these ones but looks like they are pretty widespread in NZ (though not found everywhere):

We know of Argentine ants in many parts of Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/argentine-ants/

[-] qupada42@lemmy.nz 2 points 7 months ago

About 20 years ago there was an infestation of them in the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga city council was coming around deploying ant bait around people's houses for free.

Pale green stuff dispensed from a caulking gun, seemed to do a good job.

[-] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 7 months ago

Based on my link above, I can imagine the council wanting a coordinated approach. It mentions all the colonies work together, and if you put down bait but fail to kill them all, it separates the colonies and then it's a lot harder to get them all.