Opossum Control

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 14

Opossum Control

Sir,—lt is a pity that all members of the Waimakariri Rabbit Board have not the same interest in their ratepayers as the chairman, Mr M. Spencer Bower. According to the report of their meeting, Hie majority disapprove of the private approved poison operator assisting in the control of opossums in the board’s area. Surely every opossum the private operators kill will be a saving of both time and money for the board Several months ago I approached the board regarding the opossum problem on my property, but at that time they were not interested in the opossum—only the rabbit. Now it would appear that they have had a change of heart. Is it because the opossum skins are of value or that the rabbit is under complete control? Might I suggest that if the board takes over the control of opossums in the area, there should be no

skinning and a token system applied?—Yours, etc., PERKS POSSUM. August 16, 1966. Sir, —It would seem that the Waimakariri Rabbit Board is more interested in stopping the private opossum trapper than in catching rabbits. Anyone with very little knowledge would know that rabbits and opossums have entirely different habits, and the private trapper would not interfere or endanger the rabbiters. With a bit of co-operation it would be cheaper for the ratepayer to encourage the private trapper rather than pay the rabbiters to catch opossums. It would be of interest also to know what one member meant when he referred to “picking the eyes out of the good areas.” Or has he an interest in the skins being collected? —Yours, etc., SKIN-ER-FOR-DINNER. August 16, 1966. [The chairman of the Waimakariri Rabbit Board (Mr A. Spencer-Bower) replies: “Misunderstanding has arisen over the board’s policy, which is rabbit destruction, and for which the ratepayers are paying. The opossum problem is brought about by changed and changing feeding habits caused by improved and topdressed pastures. These are turning the opossum into a grazing animal infesting pastures far removed from forest and bush. Trapping lines for rabbits are filled with opossums for two or three days before rabbits are caught. Poison line baits are taken before rabbits start on them and in many areas, whether we like it or not, large numbers of opossums are caught before rabbits can be dealt with, and ratepayers money is being used to get rid of them. We do not want to stop the private opossum trapper and hunter, but rather to have cooperation with them, which will be to our mutual benefit. We want to meet them, discuss the best working methods and arrange things in an orderly way to avoid our men finding that they are working in an area dangerous to themselves and their dogs through indiscriminate use of poison within the board’’s area. All members of the board and the foreman share these views. I ask any private opossum hunter reading this reply to get in touch with me, board members, or the foreman, and we will soon have the ‘bit of co-operation’ suggested by ‘Skin-em for Dinner’.”]