"It's not a problem that will go away quickly". Photo by
Stephen Jaquiery
Some Otago farmers are likely to be forced to poison
rabbits with 1080 or Pindone this winter to ensure better
control of the pests on their properties.
Drier weather this summer has allowed the number of rabbits
to get beyond levels that can be effectively controlled by
shooting.
But the Otago Regional Council is also warning farmers
dealing with increased rabbit numbers not to try to
re-release the RCD virus - as has been widely rumoured -
because it could "do more harm than good".
Regional services group manager Jeff Donaldson said rabbit
numbers had reached the point, especially in Upper Clutha,
that secondary control, such as night shooting, helicopter
shooting, or gun and dog, were no longer effective.
This was due to the fine weather allowing rabbits to survive
and continue to breed.
"Throughout Central Otago they are breeding very well due to
the drier climate."
Although many farmers were doing a good job controlling
rabbits, there were "a number" that would need assistance to
choose the right method, Mr Donaldson said.
The greatest concern was that one property owner's failure to
carry out rabbit control did not impact on the neighbours'
success and did not degrade the land.
However, farmers trying to re-release the RCD virus were
"wasting their time" as it would weaken the virus already
present, especially given the immunity in the population, Mr
Donaldson said.
Rumours abounded of people re-releasing the virus but
property owners should not "fiddle with it" and instead leave
the virus already present to do its work naturally, he said.
"It can continue to be helpful, as long as people keep their
rabbit numbers down."
However, when rabbit numbers were high, as they were this
season, it "could not manage the problem for us".
The council was inspecting properties around the region to
see if their rabbit management plans were controlling
numbers.
Farmers were required to submit management plans outlining
ways they would keep rabbit numbers down to the required
level for council approval if their control methods had
failed.
Those plans were audited every 12 months and if the farmer
had failed to comply with the plan they would be required to
alter it, or if they did not agree, would be issued with a
"notice of direction" to undertake the work in a specified
time.
Some already inspected would be receiving notice of
directions to undertake poisoning work using either Pindone
or 1080.
As a result, Regional Services had indicated to growers it
would need more carrots to use as bait this winter.
Although the final amount would not be known until
inspections were finished, Mr Donaldson estimated a further
500 tonnes, over the 1500 tonnes used last year, would be
needed.
Rabbiter Ray Moffat, who works on Central Otago properties,
said some properties in the area were really good as far as
rabbit numbers were concerned, while others were "really
bad".
"It's a real mixed bag, but it hasn't been as bad an increase
as it was last year."
Those places with high rabbit numbers had mostly been relying
on one method of control and not doing follow-up work to keep
on top of numbers, he said.
He recommended rabbit-proof fencing and clearing scrub to
assist in keeping numbers down.
"It's not a problem that will go away quickly."
Given that farmers were in a better financial position thanks
to increased wool and meat prices, they could afford to spend
more on control, he said.
rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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