Winter rabbit blitz planned

• Published date: 20 January 2023
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

The Waitaki District Council said in an activity report last month rabbit numbers continued to escalate in Moeraki and have increased enough to cause concern over non-compliance and necessitate another co-ordinated shoot followed by a winter poisoning programme

The area has been plagued by rabbits in the past and a group of landowners had come together with district and regional council support to try and combat the problem.

Moeraki resident Dugald MacTavish said landowners from Shag Point to Hampden had joined to form a co-ordinated response to the rabbit problem.

About 40 landowners and 3400ha are involved. Others may not have a rabbit problem using their current control methods.

Rabbit numbers had increased again recently, but that was expected in summer, Mr MacTavish said.

‘‘The focus on winter control is the single unifying factor for the group. I don’t recall anyone disagreeing with the principle. The combination of commercial farms, lifestyle and house blocks, absentee ownership, cover and a rugged coastline has presented a particular challenge requiring a range of different strategies and control methods,’’ he said.

‘‘The whole initiative has been driven by rabbit non-compliance notices from ORC to property owners beyond the township, but not yet to town residents. A programme for the township itself has still to be developed ... it’s clearly important that the town be included in the wider initiative if re-infestation of surrounding land is to be avoided.’’

Professional shooters had been employed in August and December to try to cut down the number of rabbits in lifestyle blocks, but both had limited success.

It was difficult to shoot rabbits in summer as the animals had more cover and there was more food around. Shooters could use thermal gear at night, but high numbers and long grass restricted its use when shooting over greater distances.

‘‘Those professionals have advised us that under such circumstances, getting the needed step-change to achieve and maintain numbers at compliant levels will likely need a winter poison carrot operation followed by a shooting programme,’’ Mr MacTavish said.

‘‘Numbers may increase in the short term over summer but we plan to get control from this coming winter. Meanwhile, individuals will need to do what they can to a keep a lid on things.’’

Mr MacTavish said there was a critical flaw in the Otago Regional Council approach to rabbit management for the likes of Moeraki, where extensive subdivision has occurred...