My Account
Further to our story on rabbits in Gulf Harbour last issue (HM March 17), further information was supplied recently by Auckland Council:
Auckland Council’s regional arborists and ecological manager David Stejskal says Council controlled rabbits at Pacific Parade in Army Bay last year after receiving repeated requests from a resident.
“There was a rapid reinvasion immediately after the control and further control on Council land was deemed to be wasteful,” Mr Stejskal says.
He says the rabbits are likely coming from surrounding private properties, where Council does not carry out control.
“Landowners are encouraged to control pests on their property. In urban residential areas, one option is using a low toxicity poison called Pindone in a bait station. Pindone can be purchased over the counter and legally used, without a licence, as long as it is contained in an appropriate bait station. The bait station is to minimise the risk of non-target species (including dogs and cats) being exposed.”
He says it is highly unlikely that a well-cared for dog or cat would ingest a toxic level of this bait, even if they were able to access it.
“In the unlikely event of a toxic dose being ingested, the antidote is vitamin K1,” Mr Stejskal says.
In addition, while the paper was told previously that there are no rabbit issues at Shakespear Open Sanctuary, Mr Stejskal now confirms there was a recent incursion.
“Our Regional Parks team manages rabbit control in the Okoromai Bay area and Shakespear Open Sanctuary, aiming for a zero density. Occasional incursions into the open sanctuary are pursued with priority. We are currently dealing with one and it is mostly under control.”
