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Vet’s
career
on the
move
Trains, planes and
automobiles have all
been a part of vet Jim
Reilly’s working life. From
flying himself around the
the Northern Territory
to an ingenious way to
move his horses across
the continent, it has been
one big adventure.
REPORT: P6-7
Picture:
KAROLIN MACGREGOR
Rabbits on the rise
KAROLIN MACGREGOR
AN explosion in rabbit numbers
statewide has prompted calls
for more control measures.
Landowners have reported a
jump in rabbit numbers this year
and one northern Tasmanian
council has responded to
community concerns by sending
a letter to the Department of
Primary Industries Parks Water
and Environment.
The Meander Valley Council
wrote to DPIPWE last week
requesting a help with the
region’s rabbit problem.
Mayor Wayne Johnston said
the issue was particularly bad
at Westbury, with reports of
significant damage to building
foundations and gardens.
Mr Johnston said while
controlling rabbits was not
a council responsibility, he
wanted to help landowners.
“A lot of people are saying
they can’t put vegetable gardens
in because the rabbits are just
destroying them,” he said.
He said Westbury was one of
the worst areas but there was
also damage at Meander and
Mole Creek had had a lot of
rabbits earlier.
In its letter, the council
requests DPIPWE reviews the
release of the calicivirus strain
RHDV-K5 in 2017 to determine its effect and consider a
potential autumn virus release.
The council also asks if there are
plans for other control methods
such as burrow fumigation,
trapping or shooting.
Mr Johnston has also asked
DPIPWE to provide a rabbitcontrol guide.
“As a council all we can do is
lobby the department, but we’re
also willing to help facilitate
public meetings to provide
landowners information about
what they can do,” he said.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the
old control methods aren’t
available now, so we’re relying
more on biological controls.”
A spokesperson said DPIPWE
would
continue to engage
with the council on rabbit
management.
They said calicivirus was
released multiple times in the
Westbury area in 2020, and
Biosecurity Tasmania officers
had recently been in contact
with specific landowners.
The
spokesperson
said
DPIPWE operated a statewide
management program that
included advice as well as the
use of the chemical Pindone and
calicivirus where appropriate.
The calicivirus is released
from March to July in areas
with identified rabbit problems.
While there is no statewide
monitoring program for wild
rabbits, DPIPWE uses reports
from the community and data
from previous baiting programs
to inform annual control
programs.
The spokesperson said landowners could engage licensed
pest contractors and actions
to protect properties included
rabbit-proof fencing and weed
management.
TASMANIAN COUNTRY Friday, January 29, 2021 03