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| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 11:03:25 |
| Subject: Rabbit Control | post id: 37126 |
| Do you guys know whether myxomatosis (not sure about spelling) has been very effective in controlling the rabbit populations in the worst affected areas? Would we be able to get to a point where those areas will be back to the same level of productivity as they were at before rabbits were brought in? | |
| From: hottentot | 11/02/2002 11:08:25 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37128 |
| Hamish, there's a new virus used now, - name escapes me at the present. I was only thinking about myxomotis (sp) yesterday. Is the rabbit on ABC kids TV called MIXY for a reason? | |
| From: Lib (Avatar) | 11/02/2002 11:09:52 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37130 |
| Calici virus is the new one. Only partially effective as well. | |
| From: beclf® | 11/02/2002 11:11:52 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37131 |
| Morning Hamish. AFAIR, myxamitosis (I don't know how to spell it either) was unleashed on Australia's rabbits and killed masses of them. But the rabbits that were left, who were resistant to it, soon repopulated. [:)) good song on the radio......now back to what I was saying] So that's one weapon we can no longer use in getting rid of them. As for areas being restored after getting rid of rabbits, I recal a story I read (probably from here) about the mulgalands or similar in Victoria. The area was stripped bare by rabbits and several species of plant were thought to be extinct; they had not been seen by the last two generations or something. However after huge efforts to get rid of the rabbits, when the plants started coming back, these 'extinct' species also began to spring up. They had been dormant in the soil for many years. Does anyone know the details of this? | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 11:13:03 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37133 |
| what about the calice (sp) virus? I know that was apparently released by accident, but how effective has that been? Someone told me that it was quite effective, so much so that the last couple of times I was travelling up through northern South Australia and the territory things were (apparently) greener. The rabbit is called Mixy, yes, and because of Mixamytosis. she used to be on that show in the afternoons, "the ferals", that had the rat (rattus) a cat (modigliana) and a dumb dog whose name escapes me at the moment. The most recent incarnation of that show includes a cockie and a cane toad, and they are always fighting the natives. It's kind of funny, actually. | |
| From: Lib (Avatar) | 11/02/2002 11:15:30 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37134 |
| >However after huge efforts to get rid of the rabbits, when the plants started coming back, these 'extinct' species also began to spring up. They had been dormant in the soil for many years. No specific details, but had a friend researching 'seed banks'. These are essentially seeds that remain in the soil and will germinate when the conditions are right. In this way a degraded area can still regenerate provided the topsoil containing the seed bank is still reasonably intact. | |
| From: Lib (Avatar) | 11/02/2002 11:17:35 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37136 |
| I think the difficulty with Calici virus is that it isn't transmitted easily so you have to treat a warren at a time, then plough the warren to destroy it. Will have to go and do some Googling. | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 11:21:09 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37138 |
| I know that the Calici virus was released "accidently" in NZ. It was actually released "accidently on purpose" by some farmers in Central Otago. There are only a few farmers who actually know who did it (dad is one of them, but he wont tell us or anyone else who it was). It was well organised, they got it in, then released it in several stations in Central Otago, then a day or two later, it popped up on some properties in the North Island. Apparently it was effective for a start, but is now not so effective cause they released it at the wrong time. But I dont know any details about it now. | |
| From: Lib (Avatar) | 11/02/2002 11:22:27 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37139 |
| Ah, no that's it. It's transmitted by flies, so hasn't worked in colder climes where there are less flies, or in hilly areas where flies can't get over the hills. Also, there wasn't a coordinated release as some landowners got hold of it and decided to release it straight away. | |
| From: hottentot | 11/02/2002 11:22:52 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37140 |
| Ms Katydid, you are a font of knowledge! My son loves Mixy and yesterday was yelling out Mixy, Mixy when she came on a video - then I thought - that's a strange name, where does it come from? it couldn't be from the disease? Haven't watched ferals yet. | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 11:29:00 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37142 |
| Ms Katydid, you are a font of knowledge ....either that, or she watches far too much kids tv. | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 11:33:39 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37144 |
*lol* thanks hottentot :)) I remember when The Ferals first came on the teev years ago, I thought it was really offensive, because they are ferals! But then I realised they always go arse up, and it's more of a stab at Blinky Bill than anything else. (and fwiw, why is it in the cartoon version of Blinky Bill the dingoes are all bad? What is so wrong with dingoes?) | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 11:34:34 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37145 |
| ....either that, or she watches far too much kids tv *lol* you would too, if you had the opportunity! | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 11:38:27 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37146 |
| Hamish, how did your father release the calici virus? How did he get a hold of it? and was it an infected rabbit, or what? Is this a common practice amongst farmers in NZ, and for that matter, Australia? | |
| From: sue® | 11/02/2002 11:41:16 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37147 |
| Ahh something I'm rather knowledgable on :) The dogs name is Derryn In Blinky it depends which series you watch, the first series had Blinky running from the wood chip mill, when one dark & stormy night the wood chippers came & destroyed the forest, ( as they do at the dead of night:P) The second series had the words changed & if blinky cant save us noone will, good ol blinky bill. I heard at the time the wood chip industry took offence at the words & legal action was talked about. the second series has the Dingos being nicer too. Now as for Play Scholl who else likes the Arched window? | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 11:43:04 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37148 |
| you would too, if you had the opportunity damn right I would. There are lots of really lame kids programs, but there are also heaps of really cool ones. I used to babysit a 12yr old and a 14yr old after school each afternoon, and we would watch heaps of kids programs. There were some really good ones. It actually surprised me how many of the jokes they put in some shows (esp. cartoons) are ones which only adults would get. They must design the programs for adults as well as kids. | |
| From: hottentot | 11/02/2002 11:45:06 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37150 |
| They have 4 windows to choose from now!! In my day there were only 3. Kids these days dont know how good they have it! | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 11:46:49 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37152 |
| In Blinky it depends which series you watch, the first series had Blinky running from the wood chip mill, when one dark & stormy night the wood chippers came & destroyed the forest, ( as they do at the dead of night:P) Don't I know it? a few of my friends were amongst those at goolengook who got beaten by loggers who wanted to get rid of *those bloody greenies* :( I heard at the time the wood chip industry took offence at the words & legal action was talked about. wish they'd taken the hint instead. :( the second series has the Dingos being nicer too. dingoes just seem to get a bad rep in the media. :( Now as for Play Scholl who else likes the Arched window? mememememe! | |
| From: sue® | 11/02/2002 11:48:23 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37153 |
| They must design the programs for adults as well as kids. Hamish 1 of my favourite Play School episodes had John & Trish making animals out of paper bags. Trish had made a cat & John said," Ahh you have a brown pussy" Trish Goddard nearly choked Another had John crawling on hands & knees behind Monica, They were in a space ship, & John as he came up behind Monica's behind made the comment" Oh I have just seen a moon! " | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 11:49:43 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37154 |
| how did your father release the calici virus? my dad didnt release the virus. We live in Mid-Canterbury, the virus was never released there. But dad runs a wool fibre testing business and knows a lot of Central Otago high country station owners and managers very well because that is where the most stud merinos are bred. One of his customers was involved in the release, and told him who was involved (there was a small group of them) because the people involved were mutual friends of dad and the customer. How did he get a hold of it? and was it an infected rabbit, or what? I am not sure. They got the virus from Australia somehow and managed to bring it into the country and infect the rabbits. I cant remember the details. Is this a common practice amongst farmers in NZ, and for that matter, Australia? it was only a once off because once it was in the country, there was no need to bring any more in. The farmers did it because they were getting frustrated at the lack of action from MAF on the issue and felt they were being marginalised by the government. Eventually they got so frustrated they went ahead and brought it in themselves. Apparently, doing it that way, it wasnt any where near as effective as it could have been because the release was at the wrong time and wasnt controlled. | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 11:50:01 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37155 |
| ROFLMAO john is *by far* my favourite! (which makes up for all the frownies in my last post :))) | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 11:51:08 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37156 |
| PMSL @ sue's comment. I REALLY like that first one! | |
| From: sue® | 11/02/2002 11:52:00 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37157 |
| 4 windows!! thats outrageous where is all the funding for that extra window coming from, I ask you!!!??? The tax payers!! 3 windows was good nough in my day... *rant rave grumble, makes note to check out play school tomorrow* | |
| From: hottentot | 11/02/2002 11:53:12 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37159 |
| my son calls him "silly John" The scary thing is he was on playschool when I was a little tacker. | |
| From: sue® | 11/02/2002 11:55:12 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37160 |
| me too hottentot, :) | |
| From: Simon T® | 11/02/2002 11:56:44 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37161 |
| Talking about pests I heard the cane toad is now close to,or in, Kakadu. I can remember hearing that the only answer to stop this pest was to introduce something that may kill it. I can't remeber if it was a virus or a critter. Isn't this how the problem came about in the first place. Wasn't the cane toad introduced to eat something that was introduced to eat something...... | |
| From: Simon T® | 11/02/2002 11:59:07 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37162 |
| I can remember him with a pack of B&H in his top shirt pocket. And occasionally he seemed a bit silly, artificially induced I reckon. | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 12:00:05 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37163 |
| Talking about pests I heard the cane toad is now close to,or in, Kakadu. yup, I've heard the same thing, a little while ago. Isn't this how the problem came about in the first place. Wasn't the cane toad introduced to eat something that was introduced to eat something...... wasn't it the cane beetle, or something? And it turned out that the cane toad didn't eat the cane beetle at all, and instead got fat and populated quickly, feasting on local moths and stuff? >:( What about mimosa? is that *in* kakadu, or just really bloody near it? | |
| From: sue® | 11/02/2002 12:00:23 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37164 |
| You must be older than *us* Simon T :P | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 12:01:21 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37166 |
| You must be older than *us* Simon T :P I do believe if you look in the gallery you will see he is infact Ned Kelly. quite old indeed! *lol* | |
| From: sue® | 11/02/2002 12:03:20 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37167 |
| My Gracious ,you're right Kateydid, did they have telly then?? | |
| From: katydid® | 11/02/2002 12:05:10 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37168 |
| no, I think that is why he went around shooting people. kids those days. *shakes head* | |
| From: Davidavid® | 11/02/2002 13:16:00 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37216 |
| The Calice virus has been incredibly effective in the more arid areas. For example, the Simpson Desert is actually flowering quite a bit now. I dunno if the ones in vegetated (and hilly I suppose) areas are actually becoming resistant to it, or whether they are just not coming in contact with it. The thing to do now, with the next virus they discover, would be to save it up then release it with another new one - that way hopefully there wouldn't be any resistance against it. ddd | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 13:53:43 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37244 |
| what about shooting rabbits and ripping burrows? if you had a concerted program, would that work? In Central Otago they have an 'Easter Bunny Shoot' each year at easter and they have hundreds of teams which shoot hundreds of rabbits each, over the course of a day and night. The farmers also do a bit of shooting, but all this doesnt seem to make much difference. | |
| From: nut | 11/02/2002 16:28:03 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37281 |
| Shooting isn't a viable means of controlling rabbit numbers. Programs need to be ongoing. Warren ripping seems to be good but could also consider poison and fumigation. Can't remember all the details, sorry, but they seemed the most used methods. Oh, and fencing. As I understand about the Calicivirus, it had - as already mentioned - substancial effect in some areas but very little effect in others. Rabbits become immune to the virus if exposed to it early in life. :) | |
| From: cheshirekate® | 11/02/2002 16:30:09 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37282 |
| how effective is fencing? Can't rabbits just burrow underneath? | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 16:36:22 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37283 |
| Rabbits become immune to the virus if exposed to it early in life I think this may have been the problem in NZ. Because it was released by the farmers, not MAF. I think they released it at the wrong time of year when there were lots of young ones around. MAF wanted to have a proper release program followed by poisoning, and shooting to maximise the impact they had. Whereas it ended up just being a big random shambles and they lost the opportunity. | |
| From: Hamish® | 11/02/2002 16:37:26 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37285 |
| Can't rabbits just burrow underneath yeah, I dont see fencing doing anything. there are plenty of fences on lots of farms with massive rabbit problems. | |
| From: nut | 11/02/2002 17:22:50 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37289 |
| Hi cheshirekate... how effective is fencing? Can't rabbits just burrow underneath? As I understand it rabbit proof fencing has had its problems historically, however, current methods can be a very effective tool in either containing or preventing rabbits from an area, especially when combined with other control measures. From memory, the ones I have seen have an 'L' shaped mess attached to the bottom of the fence and ground. I guess rabbits only dig under fences (or most often only dig under fences) at the junction of the fence/ground, and are thus not able to do so when they encounter the mess. They're not so smart as to step back half a foot and start digging there... silly rabbits. It can be a startling contrast to see the growth difference from one side of the fence to the other :) | |
| From: nut | 11/02/2002 17:31:14 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37290 |
| The table at the bottom of this site seemed a good quich reference to me Summary of options for rabbit control (new window) | |
| From: gerri® | 11/02/2002 18:22:06 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37295 |
| speaking of cane toads this was in today's paper..the port macquarie news **15 cane toads in ten minutes BUFO is back, and in significant numbers in the Annabella Downs area. The pest management officer with the Port Macquarie National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mike Dodkin, caught 15 cane toads (Bufo marinus) in ten minutes in a pond alongside the Oxley Highway near The Ruins Way intersection on Thursday night. "They are out with the rain and the warm weather, after keeping a low profile during the dry months," Mr Dodkin said on Friday afternoon. "We encourage people to search and bring them in for our identification rather than destroying native frogs." Mr Dodkin said the NPWS had been monitoring their presence in the Major Innes Drive area for about five years, and had done numerous awareness campaigns to advise residents of what to look for. From their Thursday night location Mr Dodkin believes the cane toads could easily be moving north across the Oxley Highway and heading toward Hastings River Drive. "We are checking retention dams to see what's happening, and we could hear them as soon as we stopped the car. "To catch 15 in 10 minutes makes us wonder how many more there could be around the area." Mr Dodkin said the NPWS was the agency looking for them because of their impact on wildlife. "Port Macquarie is still the southern breeding population, even though they have been found further south in Sydney and even in Victoria." He said there was no real answer to their eradication, because of their habitat in wetlands. "They are difficult to deal with in terms of the laws we are governed by today. "There is no known way of handling the cane toad that is legal, other than doing what we are doing which is a mechanical method of removal or 'search and destroy' if you want to call it that." Mr Dodkin has also received reports from the Lindfield area, and said it was a "watching thing until we can come up with some methodology to maybe destroy the tadpoles". "All we can do is keep on the lookout and do bucket brigades, and put them down from that point on." While acknowledging that some people could be critical of the NPWS for the presence of cane toads, Mr Dodkin said: "We are looking out for them and not just talking about it". He said the cane toads were located during a survey for native threatened species and for ferals such as cane toads. The survey is being conducted in the Rawdon Creek Nature Reserve, Lake Innes Nature Reserve, Cooperabung Nature Reserve, and in local dams.** end of article | |
| From: G-wiz | 11/02/2002 18:43:16 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37296 |
| Myxamitosis is still effective but it's effectiveness seems to fluctuate. It's been around for a long time but I can recall seeing populations being diminished by it about 10 years ago. I have a suspicion calici virus is the same. It will never disappear but it's effect will fluctuate with rabbit population and other variables. Cane toads have been in Katherine (about 300 kms south of Darwin) for a few years and are probably very close to Darwin by now. Within 2 - 3 years we will be infested. It's going to have a huge impact on the local fauna populations until things even out. I heard an excellent story about Cane toads and stink beetles. Apparently in Katherine the toads sit under street lights and eat stink bugs which are attracted and it kills them. Big piles of dead cane toads in the morning. I've been meaning to chase this up but forgot. Will try to do so now. | |
| From: boxhead | 11/02/2002 22:45:05 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37390 |
| Myxomatosis did a great job, although it isn't a very nice way to die at all. Before Myxo there was no check on the population of rabbits except the amount of food available. They just breed faster than you can shoot them. We will never (IMO) find a diease to wipe out rabbits in Australia. Natural selection means that any control that isn't 100% effective (ie doesn't kill *every* rabbit) then those that are left, the resistant ones, will breed more resistant offspring. Fencing is very effective if you can aford it and can control the population within the fence. Rabbit Calcivirus is a bit of a flop IMO. It may work in specific areas, but no-where near everywhere. Control Of The Rabbit In Australia | |
| From: Jagman® | 11/02/2002 23:49:33 |
| Subject: re: Rabbit Control | post id: 37402 |
| Rabbit fences actually work quite well if you keep them well maintained. The idea was that you had a metre tall chicken wire fence and then you dug it down to about 30 cm laid mesh down to there and about two metres inwards on the side you want to keep them in. When the rabbits encounter the fence they try and get over it or through it, that doesn't work, so then they try to dig, they get down to the wire laid underneath then and give up, then they move to another place and try again. Two metres seemed to be enough to lay sideways because they wouldn't try to dig across from that far out. This was actually how the dingo fence started, and a rabbit fence and then it got upgraded and lengthened. | |
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