DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26723, 6 May 1952, Page 6

DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS

POISON DROPPED FROM AIR

CATCHMENT BOARD’S WORK

Spreading of phosphorised pollard pellets from the air to kill rabbits in the Waimakariri riverbed has been Suite successful, according to Mr R. D. ick, soil conservation officer for the North Canterbury Catchment Board, who arranged for the work to be done by an aerial top-dressing firm last month. Half a ton of phosphorised pollard was laid over an area of apSroximately 2000 acres, and when Mr lick made a few counts in the heaviest infested areas six or seven days later he found up to 10 carcases to the acre.

Mr Dick said yesterday that because there had been little rain after the dropping of the poison the pellets had remained effective for at least 10 days. Most of the dead rabbits were found within a few chains of the lines of Soison pellets. Dozens of harrier awks quickly disposed of the carcases.

The policy of poisoning rabbits in the Waimakariri riverbed to reduce the damage they do to protective works will be continued by the board. Mr Dick said that the work done last month would be followed up by poisoning with strychnine and carrots. Phosphorised pollard was one of the tools of the trade in rabbit poisoning, and it had been found that the most economic way to spread it was from the air. More dropping of poison from the air would be done at opportune times.

For the last six years the board has been poisoning rabbits regularly in the Waimakariri riverbed. A year or two ago the rabbit population through poisoning and natural causes appeared to have been reduced effectively, but Mr Dick said that the natural Increase now seemed to be showing an upward trend.