Use of poisons

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 16

Use of poisons

Sir,—l never write to the paper, however recent proposals to lay carrot bait containing 1080 close to populated areas makes me wonder about the legitimacy of the proposers, and prompts me to make blunt suggestions as to what I consider their most favoured pastimes might be. I have the dubious honour of having seen at first hand on six occasions dogs die in absolute agony from 1080 poisoning. On several other occasions dogs were dead on arrival at my clinic. This is almost invariably the case if no-one has been able to induce immediate vomition after suspected poison consumption. It is patent and blatant idiocy to suggest that baited areas are clearly marked. I, for one, am a New Zealander who rarely sticks to the beaten track and my dogs ride point some hundred yards in front. Am I to change ,my ways to avoid this minefield? I have seen the results of 1080 poisoning. The risk to dogs is absolutely unacceptable. — Yours, etc., ROSS BLANKS, Veterinarian. July 14, 1986.

Sir,—The growing hysteria among the uninformed members of the community is causing some concern to those of us employed in the pest destruction movement: It would save hours of heartache for the many ani-mal-loving and conservationistminded folk of this country if some of our veterinarians and other , outspoken people would research their subjects before subjecting the public to a recurring series of alarmist headlines about the dire consequences of using 1080 poison. If Helen Constable (July 7) is worried about the persistency or longevity of 1080 in the biological chain, perhaps she should examine the University of Canterbury’s research on soil bacteria. Perhaps few know that 1080 occurs naturally in several plant species in several countries. — Yours, etc.,

GERRY KEMP. Culverden, July 12, 1986.