POISONING RABBITS WITH STRYCHNINE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XV, Issue 3, 20 September 1917, Page 150

POISONING RABBITS WITH STRYCHNINE.

With reference to the use of strychnine for poisoning rabbits, Mr. G. H. Blair, of Hillend, Balclutha, forwards the following informative note. In drawing attention to this method it is advisable to give a reminder of the intensely poisonous nature of strychnine—even in minute quantities —to human beings, and of the necessity for inexperienced operators to observe extreme precautions in handling the poison. Mr. Blair states, —

I have had three years' experience poisoning rabbits with strychnine. My method, which I have found most successful, is to put 15 lb. of oats into a kerosene-tin, add 2 lb. of molasses, fill up with water, stir to dissolve the molasses, and boil till the oats are soft; then strain off the liquor. With oats treated thus I feed the rabbits three times, then poison by shaking one teaspoonful of powdered strychnine over 3 lb. of the boiled sweetened oats prepared in exactly the same way as for feeding. For feeding I lay baits of about one tablespoonful of the oats 5 yards apart, and baits of one teaspoonful of the poisoned oats for poisoning. I find it a good plan to count the baits laid, as I can then mix almost the exact quantity of poisoned oats required, there being, roughly, 210 poisoned baits in 3 lb. When mixing a big quantity, 241 b. of boiled sweet oats go to roz. of strychnine. The liquor strained out of the oats can be used over and over again if kept clean and sweet, and I just add about half the first quantity of molasses when using it again.

So far this season I have used 3 oz. of strychnine and picked up 1,101 rabbits, and this on ground that trappers could not get good catches on. All my neighbours are using this recipe with great success for coping with bunny, and have given up entirely the use of phosphorized pollard and oats in favour of the above. I have had a lot of inquiries this season from all parts of Otago and Southland.

I may add that I always use the rabbit carcases that I get handy to the homestead for feeding the dogs, pigs, and poultry, and so far have not observed any evil results from so doing —in fact, I sun-dry surplus carcases to keep me in dog-feed when not poisoning. I forward a photograph showing a heap of 470 rabbits I picked up one morning off a 100-acre paddock, and every carcase has been consumed by my own and neighbours’ dogs. Of course, I remove the stomachs unbroken and bury them, but even the entrails have no apparent effect on animals eating them.