Big rabbit kill, but warnings remain

The rabbit-killing virus RHD has this year in Otago taken its biggest toll on the animal in at least five years.

Its effectiveness during the past summer has puzzled the industry because the Otago Regional Council's two-yearly tests for the disease's presence in Otago show high levels of immunity to the virus.

Test results show the average immunity across the 10 sites was 68%, similar to 2009 levels, council regional services technical field adviser Don Robson says in a report to be presented to its regulatory committee tomorrow.

"Interpreting this year's serum results has been difficult, with most monitoring sites showing high immunity levels, yet the virus has been the most effective and widespread for many years."

The virus displayed its greatest activity in the Alexandra basin, Ida Valley, Upper Clutha and Strath Taieri.

"In fact, most of Otago appears to have received the benefits of good kills from the virus."

As well as good death rates, observations showed deaths due to the virus continued to occur longer than normal, which meant the antibodies were still present during testing - unlike in other years.

"This observation clearly indicates high immunity levels do not necessarily mean the virus is no longer effective.""Exceptional" conditions in Central Otago had seen grass growth throughout most of summer because of frequent rain, which meant more young rabbits survived, he said. It also meant more flies, which were thought to be an important vector of the virus.

Full article here.

Wildlife refuge no more for pests

Helicopters have worked through sub-Antarctic winter weather to twice saturate the 13,000-hectare wildlife refuge with poison baits targeted at rabbits, rats and mice. Now dogs are mopping up remnants.

The $25 million federal-state project had to overcome setbacks including abandonment of its first round of bait-laying flights last winter, and the unintended poisoning of hundreds of seabirds. Now rewards are flowing as grasses and other flora sprout through the cold.

Read more here.

Endangered Animals: Rabbit Relief

(WILDLIFE/ENDANGERED ANIMALS) When it comes to pulling rabbis out of hats, we might soon be out of the Columbia Basin pygmy. The remaining number of tiny rabbits, thought to have gone extinct in 2004, have been raised in captivity in efforts to restore their devastatingly low population. While there’s debate as to the best way to breed the bunnies, most wildlife experts agree that it’s going to take nothing short of a magic trick to replenish the pygmy population. Read on how they plan to do it. — Global Animal

Read article here.

Hostilities resumed in Wyndham's rabbit war

ALTHOUGH floods and mosquitoes have helped keep rabbit numbers down in Wyndham recently, seasonal baiting has begun.

Wyndham Council’s autumn rabbit-control program is in full swing with dog owners advised not to walk their dogs in some areas for the next month.

Baits of chopped carrot, treated with the poison, pindone, are being laid by a licensed contractor in Point Cook, Werribee, Werribee South and Mt Cottrell.

Vitamin K1 is the antidote for pindone, an anti-coagulant poison available from local vets notified of the baiting.

The council has warned residents not to handle carrot pieces or rabbits found in baited areas.

Warning signs were to be placed at all reserve entrances.

Council chief executive officer Kerry Thompson said rabbit populations had fallen in Wyndham due to recent floods and the subsequent increase in mosquitoes, which transmit myxomatosis - lethal to rabbits.

But the council was still required under state legislation to keep rabbit populations under control, she said, hence the continuation of the council’s rabbit eradication program.

“If not controlled, a single pair of rabbits can breed to more than 184 individuals in just 18 months,” she said.

Areas being baited until this Friday are the northern side of Skeleton Creek, between Boardwalk Blvd and Palmers Rd, and Alamanda Wetland Reserve, Point Cook; both sides of the Werribee River from Chirnside Park to the Maltby Bypass, Werribee; Grahams Reserve and K Rd Cliffs, Werribee South; and Cobbledicks Reserve, Mt Cottrell.

For more information, go to wyndham.vic.gov.au

Sourced from Wyndham Leader.