Rabbit bait pellets at Virginia Lake

Published on 11 October 2017

11 October 2017

Whanganui District Council says pellets seen at the Virginia Lake reserve were rabbit bait placed by a contractor managing pest control at the Council-owned park.

Council Chief Executive, Kym Fell says, “The pellets were seen by members of the public who were concerned that they could be 1080. I can assure you that this is not the case. Whanganui District Council does not use 1080 as a method of pest control in any of its parks, or in its forestry portfolio.

Mr Fell says, “The bait used in this case is called Pindone and it is a product available to the public to buy. Although it is not ideal to handle or ingest, it is not considered highly toxic to humans or domestic pets and if swallowed, Vitamin K can be administered as an effective antidote. It is coloured green to deter birds and other native wildlife.

“Whanganui has some of the most beautiful parks in New Zealand and our residents and visitors are delighted by the birds and plants present in these green spaces. It’s important that we protect and maintain these assets for our community and this does mean we have to use pest control methods in a considered and safe way.

“I am very concerned about some aspects of its use in this case though,” he says. “Some of the bait had been placed under a tree stump where there was evidence of rabbit burrows and activity. It should have been in an approved bait station. I also believe the timing of its placement was ill-considered, given the popularity of Virginia Lake during the school holidays.”

“I apologise for the concerns this has raised in our community and accept that Whanganui District Council is responsible for a rather poorly-executed baiting programme.”

Mr Fell says Whanganui District Council will make it a matter of urgency to review its pest management processes with contractor, Fulton Hogan Ltd. “We will be looking at measures to ensure the public is aware of any bait placed in our parks and that pellets are properly contained in bait stations. The timing and location of bait placements also needs better consideration.”

Whanganui District Council met with representatives from the Department of Conservation and Fulton Hogan at the site this morning and the exposed bait has now been removed.