THE RABBIT PEST

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2330, 17 September 1921, Page 2

THE RABBIT PEST

1 *Ol SONING OPERATIONS.

The work of rabbit poisoning, if it has not already been done this spring, should be tackled as early as possible. In reality it is on the late side for poisoning. August is a much better month. For one tiling there are already a good many young rabbits about. Nesting began very early-lhis season. It is always the best, policy to kill (lie does while they are carrying their young.

Another reason is that the ewes are being put out for lambing now, and the poisoning is best done while the sheep are on the turnips and the grass paddocks are clear. It is not safe to lay poison where sheep are grazing. Phosphorated pollard is generally favoured, but oats are being substituted in some instances, as it has been found that the rabbits have not been taking Ike pollard freely. When grain is. used some feeding can he done before the poison is laid. This allays suspicion, and big kills are often procured in this way. Strychnine is being tried with good results. Where this poison is used it jnust be handled very carefully. The general practice is to lay it with oats or carrots, the bunnies being fed for a. few days before the bait is laid The poison is so deadly that the rabbits die practically on the spot. The carcases should be collected and buried,as (here is a danger of dogs being poisoned if they are allowed to eat the dead rabbits. There is not anything like the same danger when phosphorus is used.