The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is implementing a range of new rabbit management initiatives including better engagement with specific communities, finding tangible solutions to facilitate rabbit control in ‘problematic’ peri-urban areas, and increased monitoring and compliance programmes.

It is also planning to hire three additional fixed-term positions within the biosecurity team, two of which will focus exclusively on ORC’s Regional Pest Management Plan.

“The council’s biosecurity activities are undergoing transformation…” ORC manager biosecurity and rural liaison Andrea Howard told councillors in an implementation committee meeting on Wednesday (October 15).

Changing communities, land-use patterns and attitudes, along with variable success rates of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) have made the feral rabbit problem increasingly difficult to manage.

“Many factors influence the level of feral rabbits in Otago. Urban development has increased in traditionally high rabbit population areas such as Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes,” Andrea said. 

“This has been exacerbated by the rapid conversion of former extensive sheep grazing farmland for the purposes of residential occupation (e.g. lifestyle blocks), viticulture and similar businesses.” 

Council’s new approach seeks to demonstrate stronger leadership, increase engagement with landowners regarding their responsibilities, and ensure compliance and enforcement. 

Planning has started for rabbit control operations at Hidden Hills (Wanaka), Lake Hayes, Albert Town, Gibbston Valley, Queensberry, Otago Peninsula and Moeraki in 2021 and 2020, Andrea said. 

Rabbit control was “resource-heavy” work, Andrea said. “The extent to how much value ORC can add will be determined by available resources and landowner mindsets.” 

Councillors were asked to decide on three options for the future of its rabbit control assets, which include carrot cutters and mixers and bait feeders.

“They voted in favour of retaining the assets, but more work needs to be done before they decide exactly what happens with them,” an ORC spokesperson told the Wanaka App. 

Rabbits were first sighted in the South Island in the 1850s; by 1880 various control measures were being used to try to manage the increasing populations.

PHOTO: Supplied