Containment Control Pest Programme

Containment control is the treatment of a particular pest by recognised methods and at intervals necessary to ensure that the spread of infestation will be contained or the population levels remain under a specified threshold. The pests included in this containment programme are generally of a widespread nature.  

Animal Pests included in the Containment Control Programme:

Bennett's Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus)
Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Bennett's Wallaby

Bennett's Wallaby Strategy Objectives

Over the duration of the Strategy:

1. Ensure wallaby densities do not exceed Level 3 on the Guilford Scale on land within the Wallaby Containment Area (Map 2 Appendix 4); and
2. Prevent the establishment of wallaby populations outside of the Wallaby
   Containment Area.

Bennett's Wallaby Strategy Rules (Rule 7.2.5)

1. Within the Wallaby Containment Area shown on Map 2, land occupiers shall keep wallaby densities at or below Level 3 on the Guilford Scale on the land that they occupy.
2. Land occupiers shall notify Environment Canterbury in writing of the presence of wallabies on the land that they occupy where that land is outside the Wallaby Containment Area shown in Map 2. The notification shall be made to Environment Canterbury within 10 working days of the land occupier becoming aware of, or being advised of, the presence of wallabies on the land that they occupy.  A breach of any of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.

Explanation

The purpose of these rules is to provide a defined level at which landowners must carry out control and to assist in the early detection of wallabies outside of the Wallaby Containment Area.

Guilford Scale

 This scale assesses wallaby population levels.

1. No faecal or track sign seen but area known to be within feral range of wallabies.
2. Infrequent faecal sign seen. Track sign absent. One or two pellet groups seen when traversing 100 m. Unlikely to see any wallabies.
3. Frequent faecal and track sign seen, but only in isolated pockets. Likely to see some wallabies.
4. Faecal and track sign very obvious and consistent. Tracks well used. High probability of seeing wallabies.
5. High densities of faecal and track sign distributed almost uniformly.  Tracks well used. High probability of seeing wallabies.

Rabbits

Rabbit Strategy Objectives

Over the duration of the Strategy, achieve rabbit densities not exceeding Level 3 on the Modified McLean Scale within the Canterbury region.

Rabbits Strategy Rules (Rule 7.4.5)

1. Land occupiers shall keep rabbit densities on the land that they occupy at or below Level 3 on the Modified McLean Scale.
2. No person shall discharge a firearm at or on a property for which a shooting prohibition has been set and publicly notified for the property.
3. Land occupiers shall not use or allow the use of aerially-applied sodium monoflouroacetate (1080 poison) on the land that they occupy where aerially-applied sodium monoflouroacetate (1080 poison) has been used on that land within the previous three years.
4. Land occupiers shall keep, and make available to Environment Canterbury upon request, records in writing of the use of ground-applied sodium monoflouroacetate (1080 poison) for rabbit control on the land that they occupy, recording:
   1. the location of the land on which 1080 poison was applied;
   2. the date 1080 poison was applied;
   3. the quantity of 1080 poison that was used ; and
   4. the type of bait that was used.

A breach of any of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.

Explanation

The purpose of these rules is to provide a defined level at which landowners must carry out rabbit control, to prevent human interference with designated shooting programmes and to ensure that 1080 poison is used in a manner that does not lead to poison aversion in rabbit populations.

Modified McLean Rabbit Infestation Scale

This scale assesses rabbit population levels.

1. No sign found. No rabbits seen.
2. Very infrequent sign present. Unlikely to see rabbits.
3. Odd rabbits seen; sign and some buck heaps showing up. Pellet heaps spaced 10 m or more apart on average.
4. Pockets of rabbits; sign and fresh burrows very noticeable. Pellet heaps spaced between 5 m and 10 m apart on average.
5. Infestation spreading out from heavy pockets. Pellet heaps spaced 5 m or less apart on average.
6. Sign very frequent with pellet heaps often less than 5 m apart over the whole area.  Rabbits may be seen over the whole area.
7. Sign very frequent with 2-3 pellet heaps often less than 5 m apart over the whole area. Rabbits may be seen in large numbers over the whole area.
8. Sign very frequent with 3 or more pellet heaps often less than 5 m apart over the whole area. Rabbits likely to be seen in large numbers over the whole area.

Landholders wanting advice or assistance with rabbit control operations can use the services of Environment Canterbury's contracted rabbit co-ordinator, Steve Palmer (027 348 5394).

The rabbit co-ordinator position was established in October 2007 to provide landholders with advice on what is best practice technically and the most cost effective in terms of rabbit control, and to enable co-ordination of control operations where these straddle several land holdings and private and Crown land.

Total Control Pest Programme

Total control is the treatment of a particular pest by recognised methods at intervals necessary to eradicate them and prevent their reappearance.  However, eradication in the long term will depend on the extent to which rooks are controlled outside of the Canterbury region. Consistent destruction of rooks will eradicate the population. Apart from advocating their eradication, the level of control for rooks outside Canterbury is beyond Environment Canterbury’s control.

Animal pests included in the Total Control Programme:

Rooks (Corvus frugilegus)

Strategy Rule for Rooks (Rule 5.2.5)  

Other than under the instructions or supervision of an authorised person, land occupiers and other persons shall NOT at any time:

1. poison, capture or trap any rook; or
2. discharge any firearm at any rook; or
3. discharge any firearm at or within 500 metres of any tree known to contain a rookery; or
4. damage, disturb or interfere in any other way with a rookery.

These rules shall not apply to the activities of an authorised person in exercising or performing a function power or duty under this Strategy.

A breach of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.

Explanation

The purpose of these rules is to prevent humans hindering the control of rooks. The birds are easily dispersed and require a settled environment for successful control operations.

Contact Environment Canterbury on 03 365 3828 if you suspect you have seen a Rook(s).  Please do not attempt to shoot or otherwise disturb the birds. Environment Canterbury staff will inspect and control birds if feasible at no cost to landowners.

Biodiversity Protection Programmes

The biodiversity protection programmes incorporate organisms whose principal threat is to biodiversity values in the Canterbury region. It is a site-led approach and deals with all pests and any other organisms that pose a significant biodiversity threat to a particular targeted or high-value environmental area. Provision is made for targeted control to be undertaken in areas that may not necessarily meet the high-value criteria set out in 8.2.1 but for some other meritorious reason warrant action. For example, an area of low level of infestation close to but not adjacent to a high-value area.

The programme seeks to protect biodiversity values in targeted areas by reducing or eliminating the threats imposed by certain plants and animals. It does not impose obligations upon owners and occupiers of land to control these plants and animals in all instances, although Environment Canterbury will generally encourage people to do so and provide technical and other support for control programmes.

The opportunity exists for local areas to achieve more than can be achieved by Environment Canterbury in targeted areas or high-value environmental areas. Some areas may not meet the criteria for selection but there may be a local desire to undertake control of these pests in a particular area. To accommodate local initiatives, this Strategy provides for the establishment of Community Initiative Programmes to deal with Biodiversity pests.

Animal pests included in the Biodiversity Protection Programmes include:

Feral Cats (Felis catus)
Feral Goats (Capra hircus)
Ferret (Mustela furo)
Weasel (Mustela nivalis)
Stoat (Mustela ermine)
German wasp (Vespula germanica)
European wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Feral Deer - Red Deer (incl. hybrids) (Cervus elaphus)
Fallow Deer (Dama dama)
Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa)
Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen)
Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)
European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Ship rat (Rattus rattus)