A dry year has provided "optimum" breeding conditions for
rabbits and numbers are creeping back up, Otago Regional
Council regional services group manager Jeff Donaldson says.
Rabbit control is the focus of a workshop in Cromwell on
Monday and Mr Donaldson is hoping for a good attendance of
Central Otago landowners.
The free workshop, run by the regional council, is aimed at
all landowners, and will offer management plans for rabbit
eradication as well as suggesting control tools and options.
"Rabbit numbers are creeping back up. We had a breathing
space for a while with the [rabbit haemorrhagic disease -
RHD] virus, but now numbers are creeping back up again, so we
certainly need to look at tools other than the virus," Mr
Donaldson said.
The effectiveness of RHD had declined, he said.
The lack of rain suited the rabbits and provided optimum
breeding conditions. More rain meant the rabbits were more
likely to drown in the nest or suffered as a result of too
much grass around.
They suffered badly from a form of viral pneumonia which was
linked to lush quantities of cocksfoot grass.
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