Over the coming months, Mr Hayes, who has worked in the trapping industry for 20 years, will carry out possum and rat control around the city, a job he was looking forward to.
"Rats and possums are very destructive," he said.
"I appreciate them for what they are, but I have never come to like rats."
From Monday, Mr Hayes and his four full-time staff from Pestbusters Dunedin Ltd will set Timms traps and bait stations containing a second-generation coagulant, across 800ha of the city.
Most of the operation will be carried out on council reserves and will include two new areas - Dalmore and Walton Park.
With food still scarce for rats and possums, it was an ideal time to trap for possums and bait rats, he said.
Dog owners were advised to keep their dogs on a leash in baited areas.
Traps would be set after 4pm and sprung by 9am each day.
The work, weather permitting, is expected to take several months.
Dunedin City Council parks officer Scott Maclean said more than 4500 possums and unknown numbers of rats had been cleared from the city in previous years.
