Posted: 15 April 2005
Dry weather boosts rabbit numbers
Dry summer and autumn conditions are behind a current increase in reports of rabbit-related damage to Northland lawns, plantings and pastures.
Northland Regional Council Pest Management Officer Steve Henderson says ongoing dry weather has enabled greater number of rabbits to survive into adulthood, with their presence especially noticeable to people living on the region’s lighter or sandier soil types.
“Juvenile rabbits which would not normally survive the wet have this year made it though to adulthood and consequently increased reports of damage are now coming through. These vary from nuisance type scratching on lawns to some more serious damage to new plantings and pasture.”
Mr Henderson says rabbits can survive without their mother when just 17 days old. They are “very territorial”, with the size of their territory varying up to several hectares, depending on local rabbit numbers and proximity to their November to June main breeding season.
He says the slow-acting, anticoagulant poison Pindone is probably the most effective way to deal with most rabbits and does not require a licence to use.
“This is basically the same type of poison used in most common rat baits but in a cereal-based pellet palatable to rabbits.”
He says rabbits require several feeds to consume a lethal Pindone dose and typically take about a fortnight to die. Because of the length of time the poison needs to take effect, people are advised to poison well before planting in rabbit-prone areas or risk having the young plants damaged by rabbits before they succumb to the poison.
Other methods of rabbit control include a phosphorus single strength paste (only available to those holding a poisons licence/approved handlers certificate) or night shooting.
However, Mr Henderson says a successful night shoot will probably only remove 30 percent of rabbits, compared to as much as 90 percent-plus for poisoning.
Other ways of minimising rabbit damage include keeping grass or pasture as long as possible. “Rabbits prefer short grass to feed in and getting wet is usually death sentence for them.”
Similarly, removing possible cover like log heaps and piles of rubbish is recommended, as is minimising earth disturbance as fresh dirt attract rabbits to a site.
Mr Henderson says Regional Council Pest Management Officers can provide advice on control of rabbits and other pests and can also provide a free 2kg bag of Pindone on a one-off basis to land owners.