Winter Pest Activity in Rural NZ – What to Watch and Why It Matters

As the colder months settle in across rural New Zealand, it’s easy to assume that pest activity drops off. While some pests may become less visible in winter, the reality is that many remain active and can cause significant damage to land, livestock, and native bush during this time. At T & C's Pest Control Services, we help rural property owners across the Wellington region stay informed about seasonal pest behavior and take timely action to protect their properties through winter.

Understanding what pests are likely to be doing in winter allows for early intervention, which is often more effective and cost-efficient than waiting for signs of serious damage in spring.

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Rabbits – Burrowing Deep, Causing Damage

During winter, rabbits reduce their surface activity but remain highly destructive. They spend more time in their burrows, reinforcing and extending warrens to provide shelter from the cold. These burrows can compromise soil structure and pose a risk to livestock, particularly sheep and cattle, which can suffer injuries from collapsing ground.

While grass and vegetation growth slows in winter, rabbits continue to graze heavily on whatever is available, often targeting young pasture, winter crops, and the bark of trees and shrubs. This grazing pressure can slow pasture recovery, reduce feed availability for stock, and increase the risk of soil erosion on bare ground. Early winter management helps reduce numbers before the breeding season resumes in spring.

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Feral Pigs – Rooting for Food and Damaging Pasture

Feral pigs remain active throughout winter and are known for their destructive rooting behaviour. As natural food sources become scarce in the bush, pigs are more likely to venture onto farmland in search of roots, tubers, and leftover crops. Their foraging can tear up large areas of pasture, disrupt fences, and damage waterways through erosion and sediment runoff.

In colder weather, pigs may also take shelter in scrub, gullies, and sheds, bringing them into closer proximity with stock and farm infrastructure. In some areas, pigs pose a biosecurity risk, spreading diseases such as leptospirosis, which can affect both animals and humans.

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Possums – Feeding Aggressively and Seeking Shelter

Despite colder temperatures, possums remain highly active in winter, especially during clear nights. With fewer natural food sources available, they target orchards, shelter belts, and stored feed supplies, causing contamination and economic losses. Possums may also damage infrastructure by nesting in roofs and sheds.

In forested areas, possums continue to browse on native trees, including totara and kōwhai, weakening trees during a time when growth is slow and recovery is limited. Winter control helps reduce damage and lowers the chance of possum numbers spiking in spring.

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Stoats – Predators on the Move

Stoats and other mustelids remain highly active hunters during winter. As small mammals and birds become less abundant, stoats roam wider areas in search of food. They pose a serious threat to poultry, game birds, and native wildlife, especially ground-nesting birds like pīwakawaka and weka.

Stoats often move closer to farm buildings, sheds, and poultry runs in winter, making stock more vulnerable. Their ability to kill multiple birds in a single attack means even a short-term presence can cause significant losses for rural property owners.

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Wallabies – Silent Grazers in Shelter

In areas where wallabies are present, such as parts of Canterbury and Otago, winter drives them into lower, more sheltered terrain. Wallabies graze on pasture and crops, often undetected due to their nocturnal habits. In winter, their grazing is concentrated, placing intense pressure on feed resources at a time when pasture growth is minimal.

Wallabies can also damage fencing and native bush, particularly young regeneration plantings. Their elusive nature means they are often underrated in terms of impact, but winter is an ideal time to monitor and control their presence.

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Feral Deer – Grouping and Grazing Intensively

During winter, feral deer such as red deer, fallow deer, and sika deer begin to form larger herds, especially in lower-lying, sheltered areas where food is more readily available. This seasonal movement brings them closer to pasture, crops, and farm infrastructure, increasing the risk of significant grazing pressure at a time when forage is limited.

Deer are known to target winter feed crops, including kale, swedes, and turnips, which are critical for maintaining livestock condition through winter. Their constant browsing can lead to reduced crop yields and increased competition with stock. In forested or bush areas, deer continue to strip bark from trees, damage seedlings, and trample undergrowth, slowing the natural regeneration process.

Feral deer also damage fencing as they move through farmland, often creating access points for other pests and stock to escape, adding to farm management challenges. Early winter is an ideal time to monitor deer movement and reduce their numbers before they cause further economic and environmental harm.

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Winter Pest Management – Why Timing Matters

While pest activity may seem to quieten in winter, it’s often the ideal time for monitoring and control. Pests are less mobile, making them easier to locate and manage, and early winter action can prevent larger issues when spring arrives. By addressing pest issues now, rural landowners can minimize damage, protect valuable feed and infrastructure, and reduce pest populations before breeding seasons ramp up.

At T & C's Pest Control Services, we understand the unique challenges of managing rural pests during winter. We work with property owners to develop targeted control plans, ensuring that land, stock, and native bush are safeguarded year-round.

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Protect Your Property This Winter

Pests don’t stop in winter, and neither do we. Whether you’re dealing with rabbits, pigs, possums, stoats, deer, or other invasive species, early action in winter can save time, money, and resources in the months ahead.

If you’re noticing signs of pest activity—or want a property check before winter sets in—contact T & C's Pest Control Services today for expert advice and effective solutions tailored to your land.

Contact Us: tandcsnz@gmail.com

Service Areas: Greater Wellington Region and surrounding rural areas

Website: https://www.tandcspestcontrolnz.com/

Let’s work together to keep your property pest-free this winter—the humane way.