bukijin
Member
Hired to kill: shooter culls rabbits in city
By Darren Goodsir, Urban Affairs Editor
June 26, 2004
A hired marksman is hunting down rabbits for the first time in Sydney, with bullets replacing baits as the best way to eradicate feral animals which destroy large tracts of urban bushland.
In a trial in Warringah shire, a sharpshooter has been employed since March to kill scores of rabbits, and some foxes - blamed for damaging greens at Long Reef golf course, and the surrounding dunes and trees.
One night last week, carrying a .22 small calibre silenced firearm and wearing night-vision goggles, the marksman spotted nine rabbits hopping between bunkers. Seven of them were killed.
The council's pest species officer, Richard Ali, said considering that 79 rabbits and two foxes had been killed in two hunts in March, it appeared the strategy was a big success.
During the operation, all shots were taken between three and 20 metres from the rabbits.
The gun's spotlight was altered to a red beam, to cut down on light for local residents. All entrances to the course were secured, and some guards were posted for security reasons.
In the past, the council had relied only on baiting which required that large areas of public space were roped off, denying dog-walkers and residents open access, Mr Ali said.
The strategy would now be less baiting, more shooting, and stricter fencing procedures. "Basically, we were just spending endless amounts of time and money and the problem was not getting any better. We really required a range of new solutions."
The trial is being watched by the Urban Feral Animal Action Group, comprising 14 councils and government agencies, including Taronga Zoo, Macquarie University, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Forests.
Because the rabbit scourge is widespread in parts of Sydney adjacent to bush, the group is considering the endorsement of the shooting policy for other parts of the city.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/25/1088144979758.html?oneclick=true
By Darren Goodsir, Urban Affairs Editor
June 26, 2004
A hired marksman is hunting down rabbits for the first time in Sydney, with bullets replacing baits as the best way to eradicate feral animals which destroy large tracts of urban bushland.
In a trial in Warringah shire, a sharpshooter has been employed since March to kill scores of rabbits, and some foxes - blamed for damaging greens at Long Reef golf course, and the surrounding dunes and trees.
One night last week, carrying a .22 small calibre silenced firearm and wearing night-vision goggles, the marksman spotted nine rabbits hopping between bunkers. Seven of them were killed.
The council's pest species officer, Richard Ali, said considering that 79 rabbits and two foxes had been killed in two hunts in March, it appeared the strategy was a big success.
During the operation, all shots were taken between three and 20 metres from the rabbits.
The gun's spotlight was altered to a red beam, to cut down on light for local residents. All entrances to the course were secured, and some guards were posted for security reasons.
In the past, the council had relied only on baiting which required that large areas of public space were roped off, denying dog-walkers and residents open access, Mr Ali said.
The strategy would now be less baiting, more shooting, and stricter fencing procedures. "Basically, we were just spending endless amounts of time and money and the problem was not getting any better. We really required a range of new solutions."
The trial is being watched by the Urban Feral Animal Action Group, comprising 14 councils and government agencies, including Taronga Zoo, Macquarie University, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Forests.
Because the rabbit scourge is widespread in parts of Sydney adjacent to bush, the group is considering the endorsement of the shooting policy for other parts of the city.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/25/1088144979758.html?oneclick=true
