Wild Pigs Can Be Killed Off With Poisoned Carcases

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 13, 22 March 1950, Page 5

Wild Pigs Can Be Killed Off With Poisoned Carcases

In some parts of New Zealand, particularly on North Island hill country near areas of bush, the most annoying and destructive pest is the wild pig. Considerable success has been achieved in the poisoning of wild pigs with sheep and goat carcases impregnated with a mixture of phosphorus and carbon bisulphide, but these ingredients are dangerous in the hands of people unacquainted with their properties. When taken out of water phosphorus starts to burn, and carbon bisulphide is most inflammable liquid. Therefore the mixing of the poison by the farmer is not advisable, but the Department of Agriculture will make ready-mixed poison available from its poison depot in Frankton for sale to county councils, and farmers in containers that will ensure safe transport by rail, ship, lorry, or pack-horse. Sufficient poison for one sheep or goat carcase is contained in each bottle, which is transparent and well corked.

If a cattle or horse carcase is used for bait, three or four bottles of poison should be used according to the size of the animal. The cost of a box of 10 bottles of poison is £1 ss, railage freight paid. Orders shpuld be placed with the Department of Agriculture, Hamilton. A campaign for the poisoning of wild pigs should be planned for about May, when the pigs are likely to be leaving the denser bush areas in search of food and when, with the colder weather, they become more hungry for meat. Sheep, goat, horse, or cattle carcases are all useful, but sheep carcases are taken most readily. It is preferable that gdoups of neighbouring farmers undertake operations at about the same time.

Detailed instructions for using the poison are given in an article appeoring in the last issue of ' “The New Zealand Journal of Agriculture.” - ' ."V