Success in war on rabbits

• Published date: 03 June 2021
• Publication title: Central Otago News

Pisa Moorings is almost a rabbit-free zone.

That is in stark contrast to the rest of Central Otago and is due to community buy-in and co-operation to eradicate the pest species.

The settlement off State Highway 8, with a population of about 750, has managed to do what larger towns have not.

Rabbit numbers across Central Otago and Wanaka are as bad as ever. The latest data analysed by the Otago Regional Council over a 10-year period (2011-2020) show escalating rabbit numbers in Cromwell, Luggate and Tarras.

Monitored sites in Ettrick, Roxburgh, Lindis, Fruitlands and Bannockburn had a decline in observed rabbit numbers in this same period. The RHDV K5 virus released in 2018 was more effective in some areas than others, and was a likely factor.

ORC manager biosecurity and rural liaison Andrea Howard said rabbits were a priority pest in Otago, due to the serious threat they represented to biodiversity, environment and economic values.

Ten rabbits ate the equivalent amount of grass as one sheep, resulting in reduced pastoral production as well as soil erosion and degradation.

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