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A West Coast weka that hitched a ride to Christchurch after sneaking into a vehicle has been returned home by the Department of Conservation no worse for wear.
DOC says the incident is a reminder for people to check their gear for wildlife before setting off, to prevent spreading them into new places where they could impact the local ecosystem.
Kim Ranger and her partner Ian were parked at Berlins campsite in the Buller Gorge on the West Coast over Easter weekend. As they packed up their camping gear and put it in their two vehicles, the weka took advantage of an open door and climbed into their Ford Ranger ute hiding in dog blankets.
Kim says Ian drove their ute the whole way home, including making a couple of stops, without realising the weka was a passenger in his vehicle.
“He didn’t hear it, didn’t see it, nothing. He got home to Christchurch and hopped out and didn’t notice the weka,” Kim says.
“When I got home, I opened the back door of the Ranger to get something, and there it was in the rear passenger footwell.
“I couldn’t stop laughing and then I came the realisation, what on earth do you do with a weka in Christchurch?”
Kim says they called the afterhours vets, the SPCA and DOC who all said to wait until the next morning. The couple gave the weka food and water and left it in the ute.
“The weka didn’t show any signs of being distressed, when you opened the door he just stood on the centre console and pooped – though he did set off the car alarm at 7 in the morning. The inside of the ute was literally covered in weka poop.”
Kim says they called the weka ‘Ranger’ given its temporary home and her last name.
DOC staff picked up the weka and took it to the South Island Wildlife Hospital for a thorough check over. It was in good health apart from being a little bit dehydrated, so it was given some fluids.
DOC biodiversity supervisor Craig Alexander says it’s a reminder to people to check their vehicles for any wildlife when camping or in the outdoors.
“We were able to get it back over to the West Coast in a small carrier cage on a bus and it was released near the area it had hitched a ride from.
“There are no wild weka in Christchurch so we wouldn’t want to see them accidentally introduced here. It’s a good reminder for people to be mindful about unintentionally transporting animals in their equipment.
“In the last few months, we also had someone accidentally bring two wētā over from the West Coast in their wetsuits. They did the right thing by calling DOC and we were able to take them back over to the Coast for release.
“Our native species are unique but, in many places, they’re doing it tough because of things like introduced predators and habitat loss. We don’t want to accidentally introduce new species – even native ones – into places they don’t belong as they could have unexpected impacts on our ecosystems. Every person, business and community has a role in protecting and restoring nature.
“If you do find a native animal has snuck into some of your gear and hitched a ride somewhere it shouldn’t have, please contact DOC on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) for advice on what to do next.”
Kim also echoes that message and is keen for people to know who to call if they have a surprise wildlife hitchhiker.
In the meantime, she says it’s been a big job getting the ute clean.
“It was such a funny end to our camping trip. I’m just glad “Ranger” is back where he belongs.”
