Rabbit Control: Baiting Operations

A professional contractor to carry out rabbit control on the QLDC Lakefront Reserve between Beacon Point and Waimana Place from Monday 19 August 2024.

There will be three bait drops scheduled a week apart carried out by foot and motor bike, depending on weather.

What to expect

Pindone bait dyed green will be present on the ground in this area while signage is in place.

Public walking tracks through the reserve may be closed temporarily if work is undertaken nearby.

If members if the public are asked to wait by the contractor, they must do so.

This pesticide is poisonous to humans and domestic animals.  As a precaution, always remember: 

• Do not touch the bait

• Watch children at all times

• Do not eat animals from these areas or within 2km of it

• Do not allow dogs access to animal carcasses or bait

• Keep dogs on leash and under control at all times

Signage will be removed when there is no risk to the public or dogs.

Map of operation area 

A professional contractor will carry out rabbit control at Tucker Beach Wildlife Management Reserve from Monday 5 August 2024.

About the operation

There will be three pindone bait drops scheduled a week apart to be carried out by motorbike, depending on weather.

This operation is a coordinated effort by Tucker Beach Wildlife Trust and Council to reduce rabbit numbers and decrease the environmental effect on native vegetation and biodiversity in compliance with Otago Regional Council’s Pest Management Plan. 

Pindone bait dyed green will be present on the ground in this area while signage is in place.

Public walking tracks through the reserve may be closed temporarily if work is being undertaken nearby. Signage and personnel will be in place to ensure safe operations. If members of the public are asked to wait by the contractor, they must do so.

Signage will be removed when there is no risk to the public or dogs.

This pesticide is poisonous to humans and domestic animals.  As a precaution, always remember: 

• Do not touch the bait 

• Watch children at all times 

• Do not eat animals from these areas or within 2km of it 

• Do not allow dogs access to animal carcasses or bait

• Keep dogs on leash and under control at all times

Operation area

Tucker Beach Wildlife Management Reserve, unformed legal road within the Reserve and the closed historic Queenstown Landfill area (control area in orange).

Whakatipu Reforestation Trust are overseeing a rabbit pindone baiting operation on QLDC land from Monday 24 June 2024. 

The contractor will be installing signage at Whitechapel Reserve.

Please keep dogs on lead when passing through the area. Signage will be present until there is no risk to the pubic or dogs. 

Public queries can be directed to the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust.

Rabbit baiting Operation Control Area

The last bait application was completed on 27 August 2023. Monitoring shows the operation was successful in reducing rabbit numbers.

About the operation

This rabbit control operation was aimed to reduce rabbit numbers within the identified reserves and to comply with Otago Regional Council’s Pest Management Plan.

Environmental effects from rabbits include:

• Depletion of plant communities and species diversity

• An increase in areas of bare land as well as soil disturbance

• A reduction in soil organic matter, and deterioration of soil nutrients and structure

• Adverse effect on indigenous and other fauna when high numbers of rabbit predators target alternative prey.

Carcass monitoring will determine when warning signs will be removed from the treatment area. The estimated date for warning sign removal is May 2024, however, warning signs will:

• Be removed earlier if monitoring indicates that carcasses have broken down, or

• Stay up for longer if monitoring suggests that pesticide residues could still be present

When we remove warning signs you will know that you can resume normal activities in the area. Until this time, risks can be eliminated by following these simple rules:

• DO NOT touch bait

• WATCH CHILDREN at all times

• DO NOT EAT animals from this area

• Remember, poison baits or carcasses are DEADLY to DOGS

The last application was completed on 8 September. Monitoring shows the operation was successful in reducing rabbit numbers.

About the operation

This rabbit control operation was aimed to reduce rabbit numbers within the identified reserves and to comply with Otago Regional Council’s Pest Management Plan.

Environmental effects from rabbits include:

• Depletion of plant communities and species diversity

• An increase in areas of bare land as well as soil disturbance

• A reduction in soil organic matter, and deterioration of soil nutrients and structure

• Adverse effect on indigenous and other fauna when high numbers of rabbit predators target alternative prey.

Carcass monitoring will determine when warning signs will be removed from the treatment area. The estimated date for warning sign removal is May 2024, however, warning signs will:

• Be removed earlier if monitoring indicates that carcasses have broken down, or

• Stay up for longer if monitoring suggests that pesticide residues could still be present

When we remove warning signs you will know that you can resume normal activities in the area. Until this time, risks can be eliminated by following these simple rules:

• DO NOT touch bait

• WATCH CHILDREN at all times

• DO NOT EAT animals from this area

• Remember, poison baits or carcasses are DEADLY to DOGS

Operation area

The following toxin will be used:

• Baits covered in a 17g/kg Pindone paste

This operation consists of at least three separate toxin applications using pindone bait. Baits containing the pesticide Pindone will be distributed by an ATB (all-terrain vehicle).

Pindone is poisonous to humans and domestic animals. Always remember:

• DO NOT handle the bait
• SUPERVISE CHILDREN at all times
• DO NOT EAT animals from these areas or within two (2) km of it
• DO NOT allow DOGS access to animal carcasses or bait
• KEEP DOGS ON LEASH and under control at all times

If you suspect any human poisoning contact the National Poisons Centre on 0800 764 766.

• Keep your dog on a leash in any reserves where rabbit control is underway and signage is in place.
• DO NOT allow DOGS access to animal carcasses.

Dogs need to consume a number of pindone baits or rabbits to be affected, but if you suspect your dog has been poisoned you should contact your local vet.

To find alternative trails to walk your dog during rabbit control baiting operations in your area, check out the interactive map below:

• QLDC Dog Control Map

Note: Zoom in on map to see colour coded trails indicating where dogs must be on leash (blue), can be off leash (green) or not allowed (red).

There are high densities of rabbits throughout these reserves. Pesticide offers the most cost-effective way to reduce the rabbit population, and the aim of this operation is to reduce rabbit infestations to a very low level (Level 3 of the Modified McLean Scale).

Private landowners have a responsibility to undertake rabbit control on their land. These sites should have warning signage in place.