Spatial ecology of invasive Bennett’s wallaby in South Island, New Zealand

Context Bennett’s wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus) was introduced into New Zealand in the late-1800s, and has subsequently become a significant pest to agriculture, silviculture, native vegetation. Effective management of wallabies requires robust spatial temporal ecological information, which can be used operationally increase detection kill rates.Aims To determine home range size shape, resource (i.e. habitat topography) selection, daily movement patterns three populations South Island.Methods We attached GPS-collars 38 adult (17 females, 21 males) between May 2018 2019, obtained usable location data from 30 individuals. kernel density estimators selection functions quantify seasonal ranges respectively.Key results The mean sizes males females were similar (26.8ha 24.8ha, respectively; combined range=1.2–101.9ha), although largest belonged large males. Resource strongly influenced by distance concealment cover, ridgelines streams, i.e. selected closer these features, though not necessarily at them. Wallabies areas close cover throughout 24-h periods, but most during day, is when they bed dense cover. sampled outside peak breeding moved dusk dawn (median=~50m/h), whereas those widely dusk, night (110–280m/h), (median=~50m/h).Conclusions highly variable, on average for females. pasture with some suggesting trade-off access high-quality forage cover.Implications Our provide modelling strategies wallabies, contribute directly operational planning identifying habitats where are likely found temporally. This information appropriate survey methods control tools maximise rates based habitat.