Two 1080 poison drops are on the cards for the Mt Aspiring region, near Wanaka, later this year.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry announced last week the Government planned to spend $20.7million on a major pest control programme.
As part of that, the Department of Conservation is considering the Matukituki and Makarora Valleys near Wanaka.
Doc spokeswoman Annette Grieve said yesterday that Doc should finish monitor-ing rodent numbers by the end of this month.
"A decision will be made after that to proceed or not based on rodent numbers and beech seed volume.
"Expected timing of the operation will be between October and December.
"The target species will depend on results of monitoring.''
Stoats, rats, mice and possums were targeted in a 1080 drop in the Matukituki Valley in November 2014.
A similar poisoning programme, intended to cover 23,000ha in the Makarora, Cameron, Young, Blue, Siberia and Wilkin Valleys, did not proceed.
The 1080 drops are designed to protect native birds and mammals.
