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PROTECTING DUNE PLANTINGS

The best way to control rabbits in this situation is to use a carrot Whats happening? bait coated with an anti-coagulant poison that rabbits are very Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC) susceptible to. The best place for this bait is on the private has been collaborating with Greater mown lawns where the rabbits feed the most. Regional Council (GW) and the Department of Conservation to Pindone carrot has been used extensively in urban areas, and is improve the degraded state of the dune very little risk to pets if the simple precautions are followed. reserve from Tikotu Creek to Estuary. What can I do to help? The protection and restoration of coastal It would be fantastic if we could get adjoining landowners on sand dunes has been made a national board to assist us with controlling these rabbits. Ideally we conservation priority because of their would like to arrange the placement of carrot bait onto private threatened native plant and animal back lawns adjoining the dunes. We are keen to hear from communities and their key role in people who have rabbits on their properties and would like preventing erosion. assistance in controlling them. Until recently the focus in your area was Please contact us on controlling invasive weeds and If you have rabbits visiting and would like a GW Biosecurity supporting voluntary restoration efforts. Officer to have a look at the problem please get in touch with us The Councils last year started planting by phoning GW’s Pest Animals section on 04 5265 327 or native sand binding plants to build a send us an email [email protected] natural ‘foredune’. The plan is to plant a KCDC is willing to cover the cost of the bait which is laid on wider range of natives further back to private land on the western side of Manly Street to protect this replace weeds and help restore the dune land. ecosystem. What is the bait? The problem we are having The most effective Pindone rabbit bait is produced as diced Unfortunately rabbits are eating the carrot coated with Pindone solution and dyed green. plants that have been planted to restore the dunes and we need to control them. A small number of rabbits are doing a great deal of damage to plants, chewing them off to ground level and not allowing the establishment of new plantings.

Rabbits love to feed mainly on mown or short grass and we suspect the same rabbits that are damaging the dune plantings will be visiting the lawns and gardens adjoining the dunes.

Diced carrot coated with Pindone.

Danger to humans Treatment Pindone, like any other poison, is Do not rely on the treatment. Prevention is the best method of dangerous if eaten. However it is less protection from poisoning. toxic than other commonly used If poisoning is suspected, seek medical advice immediately or pesticides. Humans would need to eat call the National Poison Centre (0800) 764 766. If bait has very large amounts of the toxic bait for it been swallowed, give a glass or two of water and cause to be fatal. There have been no accidental vomiting by putting a finger down the throat. Repeat until the fatalities recorded in . vomit is clear in appearance. Children should be kept away from all poison areas. How the Greater Wellington Regional Council will conduct rabbit baiting Danger to pets 1. GW is notified of problem areas by occupiers. Pindone is less hazardous than other 2. Obtains permission from the land occupier to lay Pindone commonly used poisons but care is still bait and provides an information sheet. necessary to prevent accidental poisoning, either from eating toxic bait or 3. Posts warning signs where appropriate. carcasses. The secondary poisoning risk 4. Lays the toxic carrot by hand in the areas most frequented by from eating poisoned carcasses is very rabbits. The amount of bait applied is related to the rabbit small. population density. It is important to apply sufficient bait to Carrot is not very attractive to most dogs allow rabbits to feed on it over at least three nights to and cats usually don’t eat carrot at all. consume a lethal dose. If you see pets eating toxic bait, induce vomiting as soon as possible and take 5. Carrot bait is left to rot. Rainfall will wash toxin off carrot them to a vet. bait. A vet can administer Vitamin K1, which If not enough help is offered KCDC has requested GW to lay is an effective treatment, but it must be pindone carrot or pellet bait in the dunes themselves which will given in the early stages of poisoning. mean restrictions for beach users. Symptoms of poisoning Control work using this carrot bait has been carried out at The symptoms are similar for both Waikanae Estuary in the last few planting seasons and humans and other mammals. Nausea and throughout the region for a number of years, with good results. vomiting may occur soon after ingestion. However, in some cases the effects from Toxicity to humans and other animals exposure to Pindone may be delayed for Animal No. of baits to several days. Typical symptoms of weight kill (based on poisoning include: (kg) 7 day daily • bleeding gums dose) Rabbit 1.5 0.9 • increased tendency to bruising Dog 9 26.5 • blood in urine and faeces Sheep 40 564 • excessive bleeding from minor cuts Cattle 400 5647 Human - child 12 706 • moving with difficulty Human - adult 75 4412 • shock Chart is based on Pindone LD50s – amount of toxic bait required to kill 50% of a population. • coma

For more information, contact Greater Wellington: Pest Animals, Biosecurity Rob Cross office Biodiversity Advisor 1056 Fergusson Drive Council PO Box 40847 Phone 04 296 4700 or email GW/BIO-G-10/155 Upper Hutt 5140 [email protected]. T 04 526 4133 www.gw.govt.nz F 04 526 4171 [email protected] [email protected]