POISONED carrots will be used to cull feral rabbits wreaking havoc along fragile Bonbeach foreshore.
Wet conditions have created the perfect breeding ground for bunnies and the increased numbers are taking their toll on the sensitive dunes from The Glade to Patterson River.
Kingston Mayor Ron Brownlees said rabbits were a serious pest, causing erosion, spreading weeds and threatening plant diversity.
“Rabbit warrens cause the ground to become unstable and increase erosion, while the rabbits compete with native animals, such as possums and reptiles, for food and habitat,” Cr Brownlees said.
“Furthermore, rabbits attract foxes and they pose an even greater threat to native wildlife.”
Contractors will lay baited carrots and fumigate warrens over the next two months.
Cr Brownlees said domestic animals would need to consume large quantities to cause illness, but recommended owners keep pets off the foreshore for the next month.
“This is the safest, industry-best practice approach,” he said.
“The bait is slow-acting, so owners will have sufficient time to treat pets that did display signs of poisoning.”
Sourced from here.
