KILLING OF LAMBS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6545, 18 November 1924, Page 5

KILLING OF LAMBS

ARE STOATS RESPONSIBLE? MANY DEATHS AT WAIMARINO The question of killing' of lambs by stoats and weasels was further ventilated at the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night, when the state pf affairs in the Waimarino district was referred to in several copies of letters distributed throughout the clubs, of New Zealand with requests that the matter be inquired into. Mr F. Nicol, a farmer in the Waimarino district, stated to the local secretary, Mr A. C. Henderson, that lambs were being killed on his property by the stoats. One lamb was examined, which appeared to have been killed in the manner suggested, although no hairs from the stoat were visible. Jn a statement Mr Nicol stated that he had a flock of 435 breeding ewes, and from this number not more than. 150 lambs remained through the depredation of stoats. As many as 23 lambs were found dead in one morning, and one day no fewer than 14 were found in one square chain, and all bore the same punctures. In each of these cases hairs from the stoat were found inside the lamb. The writer declared he was afraid to commence docking on account of the blood attracting more vermin. Lambs as heavy as 301 b had been founff killed in this manner. * The society decided to make inquiries as closely as possible into the state of affairs;