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This article was published in 1937
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RABBIT DESTRUCTION
Mr. H. M. BLOOMFIELD. Inspector of Stock, COOMA
Thirty years ago the Cooma Pastures Protection District, was one of the most grossly rabbit infested parts of the State, and whenever a short dry spell of weather came, it was considered a drought, but which was entirely a "rabbit one," as they had devoured every vestigage (sic) of feed of any value, so that in the summer both sheep and large stock had to be removed elsewhere, for pasture, and during the winter months stock became very poor and heavy losses occurred.
Huge warrens and burrows were to be seen all about the district, and the rabbits were so numerous about the warrens, that they resembled Penguin rookeries.
To-day the largest portion of the district is practically free, due to the adoption of proper methods of destruction, and miles of country can now be travelled and not a rabbit seen.
Rabbits are now only noticeable in certain localities, and then not in large numbers, compared with the heavy infestation of former years, and these localities mostly rough and inferior country are gradually being cleaned.
When the rabbits first appeared there were no netted fences, and as they became more numerous, a few progressive owners netted in their holdings, but only adopted as a means of destruction, poisoning and fumigating, which were the main methods of destruction throughout the district, but proved unsatisfactory and a waste of money and time.
The main poison used was pollard mixed with either dissolved stick phosphorus, or S.A.P., with the phosphorus. Special care had to be taken that it was thoroughly dissolved, otherwise there was great danger of fire, through the undissolved portions, when dropped, and becoming dry, bursting into a flame.
The pollard was mixed into a dry consistency, and distributed with a horse drawn poison cart, which made a light furrow along the ground, the machine pressing out the pollard, and cutting it into small baits, dropping through a funnel into the furrow, by this method large numbers of rabbits were destroyed, especially so when the poison cart had not been used for some time, but there were always a number of rabbits which never took the baits, and became poison shy, or frightened and scattered about elsewhere, making new homes and rapidly breeding up.
On many holdings half a dozen machines would be working, but now in this district they are a thing of the past.
The poison carts were always a source of danger to sheep when the baits were not properly covered, and also the means of killing many birds, especially magpies.
Poison with strychnine and thistle roots, was also tried, but with same results as the poison cart, in that it only killed a certain percentage.
Fumigation was carried out, and while large numbers were destroyed in the treated warrens and burrows, there was always the stray rabbit, who returned and opened them up again.
Trapping was another means of destruction adopted, but this was mainly only carried out during the winter months, when the skins are of value, when this work ceased at the end of the winter, the remaining rabbits rapidly bred up again, and in short period were as numerous as formerly.
Trapping frightens the rabbits, causing them to spread over the country, and more difficult to deal with, and unless the burrows and harbor are destroyed, trapping as a means of eradication is useless.
At first owners considered the country too rough and broken for the erection of netted fences, and digging out too expensive but it was finally found out that netting and digging out, were the only successful means of dealing with the rabbits, and it is through these means that the district has been cleaned up, and the country again brought back to its proper carrying capacity.
Although country has been netted and cleaned up, it is absolutely necessary that strict supervision with packs of dogs be maintained due to the last or stray rabbit, otherwise on cleaned up holdings where carelessness is shown, it is astonishing how soon the land will again become rabbitty.