02/03/2024
**Alert: Plague Skink Sighting in Glenside, Wellington**
Attention, Glenside/Grenada Village/Churton Park/Paparangi/Newlands/Woodbridge community! We have an urgent environmental alert for our region. Plague skinks, also known as rainbow skinks, which first made an unwelcome entrance in Auckland in the 1960s, have unfortunately been spotted in Wellington β a first for our city. Originally from Australia, these creatures have shown resilience, adapting to various environments, and their predatory nature poses a considerable threat to our native wildlife as they compete for food and territory.
A skink ( unidentified) was removed from the middle of the road Mark Ave Grenada Village & released into the road verge of SNP 3 weeks ago.
These small reptiles are noticeable for their brown or grey-brown bodies, measuring 3-4cm from nose to hind legs (tail not included). They bear a distinctive dark brown stripe along their sides and display a unique iridescent sheen in bright light β reminiscent of a rainbow. Be cautious not to confuse them with our local skinks; plague skinks have a single large scale on their head compared to the two smaller scales of the natives.
A major concern is their breeding habits β particularly their tendency to lay clusters of small, white eggs in the soil of potted plants. For those of you who enjoy gardening or moving plants around, please vigilantly inspect the soil for any signs of these eggs.
If you believe you've spotted a plague skink, or their eggs, prompt action is key. Alongside reaching out to the Department of Conservation (DOC) or the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) through their hotlines, we urge you to document your sighting on iNaturalist to contribute to valuable data collection.
For a detailed overview, guidance, and further support, visit the Greater Wellington's pest resource center via the link: [Wellington Pest & W**d Details](https://www.gw.govt.nz/pest-and-weed-central/?pwsystem=true&pwid=847).
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π· Photo credit goes to Wikipedia's contributor, Donald Hobern.
**Alert: Plague Skink Sighting in Glenside, Wellington**
Attention, Glenside/Grenada Village/Churton Park/Paparangi/Newlands/Woodbridge community! We have an urgent environmental alert for our region. Plague skinks, also known as rainbow skinks, which first made an unwelcome entrance in Auckland in the 1960s, have unfortunately been spotted in Wellington β a first for our city. Originally from Australia, these creatures have shown resilience, adapting to various environments, and their predatory nature poses a considerable threat to our native wildlife as they compete for food and territory.
A skink ( unidentified) was removed from the middle of the road Mark Ave Grenada Village & released into the road verge of SNP 3 weeks ago.
These small reptiles are noticeable for their brown or grey-brown bodies, measuring 3-4cm from nose to hind legs (tail not included). They bear a distinctive dark brown stripe along their sides and display a unique iridescent sheen in bright light β reminiscent of a rainbow. Be cautious not to confuse them with our local skinks; plague skinks have a single large scale on their head compared to the two smaller scales of the natives.
A major concern is their breeding habits β particularly their tendency to lay clusters of small, white eggs in the soil of potted plants. For those of you who enjoy gardening or moving plants around, please vigilantly inspect the soil for any signs of these eggs.
If you believe you've spotted a plague skink, or their eggs, prompt action is key. Alongside reaching out to the Department of Conservation (DOC) or the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) through their hotlines, we urge you to document your sighting on iNaturalist to contribute to valuable data collection.
For a detailed overview, guidance, and further support, visit the Greater Wellington's pest resource center via the link: [Wellington Pest & W**d Details](https://www.gw.govt.nz/pest-and-weed-central/?pwsystem=true&pwid=847).
Predator Free Churton Park Predator Free Wellington Predator Free 2050 Limited Predator Free Newlands/Paparangi/Woodridge The Capital Kiwi Project Predator Free Khandallah Predator Free New Zealand Trust
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π· Photo credit goes to Wikipedia's contributor, Donald Hobern.
