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Parts of Gulf Harbour are seeing a dramatic rise in rabbit numbers.
Residents spoken to by Hibiscus Matters say they are frequently seeing rabbits in their gardens and on neighbouring properties, as well as on a nearby reserve, and that this is very unusual.
Advice given to residents by Auckland Council was to purchase poison pellets called Pindone. Some are hesitant to put these out, however, because of the potential harm to pets.
Council advises they have seen no increase in rabbits at Shakespear Regional Park nearby.
However, rabbit numbers are up on the golf course at Gulf Harbour Country Club.
Course superintendent Ryan Taylor says rabbits are especially bad on the back nine holes where there is still a lot of undeveloped farmland, building sites and reserves.
“We currently only undertake rabbit control on a couple of golf holes,” Ryan says. “We can safely block off these holes to the public while we undergo controlled shootings by a competent shooter – this is one of the most humane methods available.”
He says the idea of using poison to control rabbits doesn’t sit well with him, as there are too many household pets that venture onto the golf course.
“I would hate to see something happen to them,” he says.
On the other hand, Whangaparāoa Golf Club, in Army Bay, says it has no major problems with rabbits.
Green superintendent Scott Challenor says this could be in part because they see quite a few cats from nearby households on the course.
He says his dog is also very good at chasing rabbits!
