Hundreds of possums have been trapped in Dunedin parks and reserves, with numbers similar to previous years.
At the halfway point of a six-month project, more than 700 possums had been trapped and "an untold number of rats have been poisoned by bait", Dunedin City Council parks officer Scott Maclean said.
"The numbers have been consistent with previous years."
The most possums were removed from Ross Creek and the Dunedin Botanic Garden, but no park or reserve had a higher bait uptake, he said.
"The bait is disappearing pretty quickly from all areas and gets re-baited daily."
Starting at the southern end of the city, contractors would begin setting traps and laying bait stations at northern parks and reserves, including Mt Cargill, he said.
People were reminded to keep dogs on leashes in baited areas, with stations containing a second-generation coagulant.
Mr McLean said the council received complaints in autumn from homeowners living near reserves about their vegetable gardens being raided by possums.
"Our objective is to protect the values of reserves, but if they live next door to reserves we can help them out."
