Evaluation of bait stations for control of urban rabbits

The acceptability of four different bait station designs (drum, slab, tyre, corrugated iron) to rabbits was tested in the field using unpoisoned oat b ait. The drum (200 L, cut longitudinally) and the raised concrete slab (60 x 60 cm) designs were the most acceptable to rabbits. The raised tyre desig n was unacceptable, and this was supported by later field efficacy trials t hat compared the drum and tyre designs using 1080 One-shot oats. The effica cy of three of these designs (drum, slab, tyre) against 'urban' rabbits was assessed more fully using pindone oat bait. The tyre stations were again f ound to have little impact on rabbit numbers. With the exception of one dru m site where pindone bait stations were totally ineffective, the proportion al reductions in rabbit numbers for the remaining sites were similar betwee n the drum (69%, n = 3) and slab (70%, n = 5) designs. However, the slab de sign provided much easier access to bait by non-target species (particularl y birds), and we therefore recommend that the drum design would be the best bait station for controlling rabbits. The overall proportional reduction in rabbit numbers achieved with pindone bait stations was 48% (range 0-80%, n = 13), which is less than that usuall y achieved during broadacre control programs with pindone (60-90+%). In add ition, these kills took 30-60 days to achieve, and as rabbit damage still o ccurred over this period, the use of pindone bait stations did not always r esult in damage mitigation or, ultimately, an economic benefit. Some potent ial problems associated with the use of pindone bait stations, such as the possibility of the development of 'resistance' to pindone bait and the risk to non-target species, are also discussed. The combined use of track count s and a 'digs' index proved a reliable indicator of changes in rabbit abund ance.