(Attributable to Central Otago District Council Parks and Recreation Manager Gordon Bailey.)
The Central Otago District Council will be carrying out a rabbit control operation in Lower Manorburn Dam Recreation Reserve, starting next week.
From Monday 15 August 2022 (weather dependent), carrot bait laced with the toxin Pindone will be laid over a period of four weeks to control rabbits on the reserve. The operation will conclude approximately eight weeks from the start date.
According to pest control guidelines, Pindone is the bait of choice because it causes the least suffering, has a reduced danger to domestic pets, and is a suitable means of controlling rabbits in the rugged areas found within the Manorburn reserve.
Pindone carrot is used in winter, as this is when food sources are most scarce and fewer young rabbits are present.
The carrots will be dyed green so members of the public can easily identify and avoid them. The bait will be laid by hand and quad bike by a contractor. The operation area will be clearly signposted with warning signs in place.
The Council encountered some opposition to using Pindone last year and tried an alternative control method that consisted of herding the rabbits. However, given the rocky nature of most of the reserve, this was not overly successful and only about 60 were killed.
Shooting is another option but is only about 30% effective on its own, and again given the terrain around the reserve shooting, could be even less effective. Baiting is 80 to 90 % effective, particularly as the boundary fence has been repaired, therefore the Council is expecting a better result.
Appropriate signage will be erected on site advising reserve users of the rabbit control programme underway.
Feral rabbits are a well-known pest in Otago. All landowners must control rabbits to level 3 or below on the Modified McLean Scale (MMS 3) in accordance with the Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) Regional Pest Management Plan.
Last week (Thursday 4 August 2022) the ORC advised the CODC of non-compliance in the Lower Manorburn Dam Recreation Reserve. It would appear that most of the reserve is at least level 4 on the scale with some of the area at level 5. A breach of the level 3 rule is an offence under section 154N (19) of the Biosecurity Act and could lead to the ORC issuing a notice to take over the land and undertake the required work at the landowner’s expense.
The Council is aware that users of the reserve may be inconvenienced for the control period, but the benefits of having less rabbits will allow future native plantings to become established.
Pindone is dangerous to humans and domestic animals. Always remember:
- DO NOT handle the BAIT (OR CARCASSES)
- WATCH CHILDREN at all times
- DO NOT EAT animals from the area or within 2km of it
- DO NOT allow DOGS access to animal carcasses.
For more information on the rules and rabbit control go to www.orc.govt.nz/rabbits
