Pest Control

Pindone laced carrot poisoning will significantly reduce rabbit numbers quickly.

According to pest control guidelines, Pindone is the bait of choice because it causes the least suffering.

Pindone carrot is used in winter as this is when food sources are most scarce and fewer young rabbits are present.

The pest control work is happening to help Council get feral rabbit numbers below the required level set in the New Zealand Biosecurity Act.

Our rabbit numbers have been increasing even though we have been doing regular monthly night shooting at the reserve.

Pindone is poisonous to humans. Children should be supervised in the areas being targeted for pest control. Do not touch the bait or the carcasses.

For both humans and other mammals, nausea and vomiting may occur soon after ingestion. However, the effects from exposure to Pindone may be delayed for several days. Typical symptoms include:

• Bleeding gums
• Increased tendency to bruising
• Blood in urine and faeces
• Excessive bleeding from minor cuts
• Moving with difficulty
• Shock
• Coma

Should poisoning be suspected, immediate medical advice should be sought, by calling 111, or the National Poisons Centre (0800 764 766).

The carrots will be dyed green so they can be easily identified.

Do not eat animals from these areas or within two (2) km of it, and do not allow dogs to eat carcasses from this area.

Dogs are at risk if they eat the bait or the carcass of a rabbit that has been poisoned.

The last bait is expected to be laid before 4 August but are advised to avoid walking dogs in the pest control area and ensure to dogs are on a leash if walked in the surrounding area until early October.Dogs are at risk if they eat the bait or the carcass of a rabbit that has been poisoned.

The last bait is expected to be laid before 4 August, but people are advised to avoid walking dogs in the pest control area. Dogs must also to be kept on a leash if walked in the surrounding areas, at least until early October.

If you see your pet eating bait or a carcass, contact your vet immediately. Vitamin K can be administered by a vet as an antidote in the early stages of poisoning and has shown to be an effective form of treatment.

Depending how much they eat, Pindone can make dogs very sick or could be fatal. If you have any concerns contact your vet who will have stocks of the antidote, Vitamin K. This needs to be administered without delay.If you see your pet eating bait or a carcass, contact your vet immediately. Vitamin K can be administered by a vet as an antidote in the initial stages of poisoning, this has shown to be an effective form of treatment.

There is a minor risk to cats, as the toxin is mixed with carrot, and not a food of choice for cats.

Most rabbits succumb to the toxin in burrows, rather than above ground. This can lessen the risk of secondary poisoning for cats and dogs. There may however be some who die in the open. The areas shown on the map indicate where rabbit carcasses may be found.

We are only putting pindone carrots in the fenced off motocross area and the non-public aerodrome – purposely avoiding the walking tracks adjacent to them.

We are advising people to avoid walking dogs in the pest control area and ensure dogs are kept on a leash in the surrounding areas until early October to ensure time for baits to disperse.

Although most Pindone is consumed within a few days, signage must remain in place for eight months following treatment.

Its recommend that all pets are kept away from the area for a period of four weeks following application. This is to ensure any uneaten carrots have decayed enough to render them safe. -

We are advising people to avoid walking dogs in the pest control area and ensure dogs are kept on a leash in the surrounding areas until early October to allow extra time for baits to disperse.

Birds:- All bait is dyed green to discourage birds from eating it. Pindone is a mammalian toxin and birds have far greater resistance to the toxin than rabbits.

Stock: - Stock that graze these bait control areas will be shifted and not returned for four weeks, which is the standard stand down period.

Symptoms of poisoning include:

• Bleeding gums
• Blood in urine and faeces
• Excessive bleeding from minor cuts
• Moving with difficulty
• Shock
• Coma

Four weeks after a Pindone carrot treatment. This is to ensure any uneaten carrot has decayed enough to render it safe for stock to ingest, without significant risk of poisoning.Four weeks after a Pindone carrot treatment. This is to ensure any uneaten carrot has decayed enough to render it safe.

Council’s contractor South Roads will follow up and safely remove any carcasses.

Most rabbits succumb to the toxin back within burrows.

Future pest control will be managed by the regular monthly night shooting, unless numbers start climbing again significantly.

For more information on the rules and rabbit control go to www.orc.govt.nz/rabbits