By Hamish Clark
Rabbit numbers are exploding in the South Island, 13 years after the calicivirus was illegally introduced, almost wiping out the pest.
Now farmers say the rabbits are immune to the disease and are having to spend tens of thousands of dollars destroying the pests.
Phil Mackay, of Streamlands Station, says a direct approach is needed.
“The rabbit population is going to explode so we have got to get rid of them,” he says.
Mr Mackay runs 14,000 hectares. Grass is a precious commodity.
“We had probably eight to nine years when we had pretty much nothing, there was hardly a rabbit around we didn't carry a gun in the truck with us,” he says.
Thirteen years ago Mr Mackay was one of the farmers that mixed RCD (Rabbit Calicivirus Disease) in the kitchen blender after the Government refused to bring it in.
Farmers around the country spread it on their land with spectacular results.
“We were thinking imagine if this gives us five years grace without a poison it will be incredible - well we got close to 10 years.”
Now the rabbits are immune to RCD and are back digging holes destroying the land.
“There is certainly an immunity building up. I would imagine we are around that 60 percent immunity which is quite high so we have got to be using other methods.”
One way is by shotgun.
Even on a winter’s night Mr Mackay and his mates can go out and shoot 33 rabbits in two hours.
“It is a bit limited a lot of the rabbits are still underground so you are not getting all of them but we give them a reasonably good hurry up.”
The situation has become so serious farmers are looking to use 1080 poison.
“When we get to the situation where rabbit numbers are high 1080 is the most viable option for keeping those numbers down,” says Environment Canterbury Director Kim Drummond.
Money, Mr Mackay says is better spent on fertilizer.
“We are probably going to spend $30,000 on poison which I would rather spend on putting out fertiliser which is going to make grass grow,” he says.
Mr Mackay is hoping shooting and carrots will be enough to pin them down over the winter before the spring explosion begins.
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