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ORC to discuss rabbit control in Central Otago

Wednesday 3 March 2010, 10:00AM

By Otago Regional Council

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CROMWELL

A public workshop to promote better management of the local rabbit population is being held in Cromwell next week.

Otago Regional Council (ORC) group manager regional services Jeff Donaldson said the meeting is a chance for local farmers and land owners to learn more about their responsibility under the new 2009 ORC Pest Strategy for controlling rabbit numbers.

"The workshop will focus on management plans for rabbit eradication and methods and techniques for their control. A panel of ORC staff working on rabbit control will answer any of their questions. Those attending will get a copy of our new rabbit control brochure which gives a summary of rabbit control rules and methods of eradication.

The Regional Pest Management Strategy which provides the rules for rabbit control and other listed pests in Otago came into force last year. It has set the permitted allowable level for rabbits at on the Modified McLean scale (MMS 3). Under the strategy landowners have until 1 October 2012 to comply with MMS 3.

"Under MMS 3 the sign of rabbits must be infrequent and heaps of rabbit pellets must be more than 10m apart, with the odd sighting of rabbits," Mr Donaldson said.

The rabbit control workshop is free and open to all interested. It is being held on Monday 8 March, 2010 from 7 to 10pm in the Golden Gate Lodge at 6 Barry Avenue, Cromwell.