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Rabbit shooting at Mauao is back on schedule after a brief hiatus over the summer holiday period.
Mauao park ranger Mark Ray’s team has restarted night shoots to control the number of what he describes as ‘pesky’ rabbits on the mountain.
Mauao park ranger Mark Ray says rabbit culls are commonplace at Mount Maunganui.
“The actual numbers are quite low at the moment, which is good,” says Mark.
“We try and maintain low numbers.”
Mark says their night shooter had to stay away over the holiday break so a culling hasn’t happened since the middle of December.
He says last night was the first night shoot since before Christmas.
Rabbits are a hazard to the mountain, as their burrows can weaken the structure and cause landslips.
“Where they dig their burrows it can lead to areas collapsing.
“Water can get into those burrows and then it finds a weak spot out and that can also cause slips, and also if they’re not controlled, they can take off in numbers.”
Mark says pest control officers regularly shoot the rabbits throughout the year, with a combination of night and day shoots.
Posted on 08-02-2012 19:54 | By Zara
Not so close to Easter, who will deliver my Easter eggs???? Where is The Mayor when u need him...........