There’s a new nose on the biosecurity beat and she’s very good at her job.
Meet Lilly, an English Springer Spaniel and the newest four-legged member of Auckland Council’s biosecurity detection dog team.
And while Lilly might look like she’s ready for a game of fetch, she’s actually a highly trained pest detective.
Alongside her human teammate, Theo, Lilly is helping protect the Hauraki Gulf islands from one of our smallest and sneakiest pests: Argentine ants.
For the past four years, Theo and Lilly have lived and worked on pest-free Ahuahu Great Mercury Island, leading the ongoing eradication of Argentine ants across 200 hectares.
Now they’ve joined Auckland Council’s Pathways team as contractors, where their work will focus on preventing invasive ants from hitching a ride to the Hauraki Gulf islands.
A nose for trouble
Theo and Lilly at work
Argentine ants are tiny, but don’t let their size fool you. These little invaders can cause big problems for our environment and become a major nuisance around homes and gardens.
Argentine ants wreak havoc on the environment, outcompeting native species, attacking birds and their eggs, disrupting pollination and seed production, and weakening plants by protecting sap-sucking pests and spreading disease.
The tricky part? They’re experts at travelling unnoticed.
They can hitchhike in potted plants, soil, compost, mulch, vehicles and landscaping supplies; basically, anything that gives a tiny ant a chance to, “Hop aboard!”
That’s where Lilly comes in. She can detect the scent of an Argentine ant even when people can’t see them.
Theo says having Lilly as a teammate makes the work even better.
“Lilly is a great teammate. She’s dedicated, smart and great fun to work with. She loves what she does and she’s always ready for the next job.”
When she’s not busy working, Lilly is also partial to a swim. Theo, meanwhile, enjoys being outdoors and fishing.
Stop ants in their tracks
Spring and summer are busy times for planting, gardening and landscaping, and invasive ants are most active during the warmer months which means there’s also more opportunity for unwanted hitchhikers to make their way to the islands.
If you’re taking plants or garden supplies to any of the Hauraki Gulf islands, or moving them around an island, remember three simple words:
Check. Clean. Close.
1. Check
Before anything travels, give it a thorough once-over.
Check plants, pots, trays, bags, boxes and garden supplies for ants or other unwanted pests. Give those materials a firm tap to disturb any nests that might be hiding inside and look for ants rushing out. Remember to check packaging and anything that’s been stored outside or in a garden shed.
For potted plants, soaking them in water for at least 24 hours before transport can help flush out ants and other hidden pests.
2. Clean
Soil is a great hiding place for pests, weed seeds and diseases – so make sure there’s no unwanted baggage coming along for the ride.
Remove excess soil from plants and pots, and clean boots, gardening tools, trailers and other equipment. Get rid of mud, leaf litter and organic material.
Vehicles, machinery and trailers should also be free of soil, plant material, debris and signs of rodents – including underneath, inside and around the engine bay and the wheel arches.
3. Close
Once everything is checked and clean, keep it secure.
Where possible, use commercially sealed, unopened bags of potting mix, compost and mulch. Close and secure containers and bags, tape up any holes in boxes and keep gear covered during transport.
Storing equipment off the ground before loading can also help keep unwanted visitors out.
Small actions, big difference
Every plant, bag of soil and piece of gardening equipment travelling to the islands is an opportunity to either protect or threaten their pest-free future.
By taking a few extra minutes to Check, Clean and Close, we can all help stop invasive species from spreading and support the important biosecurity mahi happening across the Hauraki Gulf.
And if you spot Theo and Lilly working around the wharves or out on the various islands, don’t be shy – say hello.
Just remember: Lilly is on duty.
So maybe no pats until she’s finished sniffing.