What is 1080 and how does it work?

1080 — formally known as sodium fluoroacetate — is a biodegradable pest control poison used widely across New Zealand to manage introduced predators including possums, rats, and stoats. It is one of the primary tools used by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and regional councils to protect native wildlife.

What does 1080 do?

1080 works by disrupting cellular energy production. When ingested, it blocks a key step in the process cells use to produce energy, causing rapid organ failure. Death typically occurs within hours to days depending on the species and dose.

It is acutely toxic to most mammals, including humans, dogs, and livestock. Birds are generally far less sensitive to 1080 than mammals, which is part of why it is considered suitable for use in ecosystems where the target pests are introduced mammals and the species being protected are birds.

How is it applied in New Zealand?

1080 is most commonly applied by aerial drop — small cereal-based pellets or carrot baits laced with 1080 are distributed across forested terrain from helicopters. Ground-based bait stations are also used in areas where aerial application isn't appropriate.

Operations are typically planned around predator population cycles. Mast years — when beech trees produce unusually large seed crops — trigger population explosions in rats and stoats, which devastate native bird populations. DOC often schedules large-scale 1080 operations in anticipation of or during these events.

Is 1080 used elsewhere?

New Zealand uses more 1080 by weight than any other country in the world. It is banned or tightly restricted in most nations. In NZ, its use is permitted under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act and managed under strict protocols including public notification requirements, buffer zones around waterways, and mandatory signage.

Who manages 1080 operations?

The Department of Conservation is the largest user of 1080 in New Zealand. Regional councils and the Animal Health Board (now part of TBfree New Zealand) also conduct operations, primarily targeting possums to reduce bovine tuberculosis transmission to cattle and deer herds.

Why does it matter to know where operations are?

1080 operations affect large areas of backcountry and rural land. Knowing about a planned or active drop near you matters if you:

• Own a dog or working dogs that access bush or farmland
• Hunt, fish, or tramp in the area
• Live near or source water from streams in the affected zone
• Farm livestock in or adjacent to treatment areas

→ Protect your dog — set up a free 1080 alert