Still the most effective method of rabbit control

The Otago Regional Council has little choice in using 1080 to control rabbits, maintains Peter Preston.

• Case for aerial 1080 sound

Before the advent of 1080, rabbit control was a labour intensive industry, employing large numbers of staff throughout New Zealand, including Otago.

The methods used included shooting, dogging, fumigating, trapping and poisoning with such toxins as strychnine and arsenic on various baits.

No real headway was made on effective control over large areas until the advent of 1080, and particularly using bait laid by aerial means, in the 1950s.

The product is one of the most researched poisons in the world and, as Mike Bennett (ODT, 17.6.10) points out, it is a great toxin for vertebrate animal control.

It is cheap, effective, totally biodegradable with no residual effects and safe for users and the public.

Otago is arguably the most rabbit-prone region in New Zealand and many of the worst areas are in Central Otago.

Otago Regional Councillor Duncan Butcher's comment that "if we lose 1080 we're shot" is absolutely correct.

The rabbits' most effective defence is their naturally high fecundity.

Rabbits do what they do best, which is breed and breed and breed.

Even after a 95% kill, rabbit populations bounce back rapidly.

As much of their preferred habitat is rough hill country, the most effective method of control is 1080 bait, laid by air where necessary.

As we currently have no alternative toxin to 1080, a tight protocol has arisen around its use to prevent rabbit populations developing neophobia, or bait shyness.

The controls in place from the industry, health protection authorities and government organisations, ensure that 1080 will continue to be an effective tool while ensuring that the environment is enhanced and users and the public are not at risk.

Despite Mr Bennett's assertions to the contrary, rabbits live above ground level over the majority of Otago.

Warrens form on open ground and rabbits breed in stops but mostly they live in scrub and rocks, making fumigation an ineffective tool.

Forced induction of fumigants, as proposed by Mr Bennett, has been around for many years.

In the 1940s and '50s, smokers pumping a mixture of sulphur and sawdust smoke down into warrens were used extensively.

Over the years these were improved, leading to the modern Smokey, which is a petrol-powered fumigator, forcing chloropicrin into warrens.

Unfortunately these have proved only marginally more effective than their predecessors and fumigation is not seen as an effective method over large areas.

Whether we like it or not, until alternative toxins are developed, 1080 will be the mainstay of rabbit control on areas with high infestations.

Despite 50 years of use, there have been no observable negative effects and plenty of positive effects on the environment.

Land that was previously highly rabbit affected is now productive.

Peter Preston is Operations Manager for Otago Regional Council.