The Babbit Question.

Otago Witness, Issue 1653, 28 July 1883, Page 14

The Babbit Question.

Having lately had some experience— dearly purchased — in the destruction of rabbits, I wiil say a few words in regard to what I consider the best methods of getting rid, to some extent, of the pests. My farm consists of about 900 acres, and during the last 10 weeks I have had destroyed thereon 2600 rabbits, leaving at the lowest calculation 2000 still on the land. Take eight rabbits to consume the same amount of feed as one sheep, this will give a loss equal to the grazing of 575 sheep, independent of the harm done to the stock on the ground through being disturbed and harassed. The means adopted in the destruction of this number were various : poisoning, trapping, shooting, and hunting with dogs and ferrets. I laid poisoned oats twice with little success, whether owing to the mild winter, or that bunny is becoming too knowing to take the poisoned meal laid so temptingly for him, I cannot say. A strong dose of the oil of rhodium failed even to persuade him to partake. Of the entire number killed, fully 2000 were got by trapping and ferreting. The largest number was destroyed by means of the ferrets, which are invaluable for drawing them out of the under-runners and whin fences. I have the dogs trained to stand a foot or two aside from the mouth of the hole, so that the rabbit does not see them till he is out. The dogs get very fond of the sport, and seldom miss their game. Should the ferret not succeed in putting them out he will kill, and the statement made by some that " the ferrets when they kill one rabbit will have a feed and go off to sleep," is nonsense. I have known a ferret get seven rabbits jambed in the end of a hole, kill the lot, and in a few minutes make his appearance outside. Should they stay in, which does not often occur, close the hole up, come back in an hour, and they are always ready to come out. I use three or four ferrets, so I can always go on working when I have two closed up. Half a day is long enough to work one set of ferrets ; fresh ones are required for the other half. If it were not for them I should begin to despair of being ever able to cope with the rabbit plague ; they are in my estimation the best preventive that I am acquainted with. I have scattered poisoned grain thickly over my land every winter these last four seasons, and each following year finds the rabbits more numerous. At the present time the Government are paying away thousands of pounds annually keeping up a staff of inspectors, whose sole duty seems to consist in compelling landowners to lay down poisoned grain during the winter months. All through the summer, when every rabbit that escapes the poison multiplies by hundreds, there is next to nothing done. The inspectors

adopt no stringent measures to force owners to destroy the pests while breeding ; they are left pretty well to the freedom of their own will till the winter comes round again. If an owner employs one rabbiter on 13,000 acres, he is supposed to do his duty ; at the same time his property may be a huge breeding-ground, where rabbits are reared by thousands, to spread over the country and infest the lands of his neighbours, thus entailing on them an expenditure of hundreds of pounds. If people are not forced to destroy them while breeding, they, will increase stea lily in spite of phosphorus and all other poisons. I think it would be money well spent were the Government to import large numbers of ferrets, and supply them gratuitously to anyone who would take charge of them for the purpose of destroying rabbits. As they increased they could be turned adrift to shift for themselves. A thousand, or so thus set loose would soon tell. At present they are so scarce that they cost from 203 to 30a each. The natural enemies are undoubtedly the only sure means of keeping them in check, and the sooner the Government set about introducing them in numbers the better for the future prosperity of the country. Farmer. Olutha.