Sheep reported dead after eating poison

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 1

Sheep reported dead after eating poison

A large number of sheep have died—apparently from 1080 poison laid to kill opossums—in the Alford Forest area of Mid-Canterbury. But the farmer concerned, Mr D. Harcourt, and the Ashburton Pest Destruction Board are unwilling to comment on the incident until further investigations have been made. The board chairman (Mr J. R. Bruce) said last evening that he had first heard of the incident on Friday,

but he would have to confer with other board members before commenting. The poison was laid two or three weeks ago in a programme to eradicate opossums which have bovine TB, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries regional veterinary officer (Mr H. G. Stockdale). Mr Stockdale said his office had not yet been informed of any sheep being killed. “That is news to me,” he said last evening. “It’s most unusual to get this sort of thing. It has been made very clear to the farmers that they should

not let their stock back into the areas until the toxin is gone.” It could not be confirmed last evening whether the Pest Destruction Board had given the farmer a clearance to put the sheep back into the area. One source said that up to 300 sheep had died, but the number could not be confirmed. Mr Stockdale said that a certain amount of rain had to fall to allow the 1080 poison to wash out of the diced carrots. "All Pest Destruction Boards tend to play safe before letting stock back in,” he said.