"Hazel" and "Pipkin", the domestic bunnies, and others of their ilk, have little to fear from the impending release of the killer disease, rabbit calicivirus. However, Horizons Regional Council animal pest control officer Bill Martin could give no absolute guarantee yesterday that pet rabbits would not fall victim to the disease. Theonly way for owners to ensure their pets' continuing good health was to have them vaccinated. That advice will be given to people whom Horizons pest unit officers will be talking to during the next few days in preparation for the first "official" release of the rabbit-killing disease in the Wanganui-Manawatu region. The areas being targeted include golf courses, parks and other public spaces mainly close to populated urban areas. Mr Martin said the virus was being used in those places because it was apparent, from the number of complaints Horizons was receiving, that rabbits had become a problem again but could not be controlled by other means such as shooting and poisoning. He said the project would involve the laying of baits laced with calicivirus of a strength that would knock down the rabbit populations in the target areas and then die out. The programme would be carried out in the next couple of weeks because this time of the year was when the disease was most potent. Rabbit calicivirus was first used in this region almost a decade ago. But at that time it was an "uncontrolled release" carried out by rebel landowners who defied the then Government's ban on the importation of the virus from Australia. Mr Martin said the difference this time was that regional councils nationwide had go together to draw up a set of standards, guidelines and protocols for the use of calicivirus. So Horizons' planned release of the disease would be carried out according to those guidelines. Mr Martin said the initial release had done "a reasonably good job" but its effects were running out, hence the upsurge in the rabbit population. The actual strength of the illegally released calicivirus was also unknown. But the strain Horizons will use is "a good brew" that has been approved by Erma ? the Environmental Risk Management Authority ? so is expected to do the job as intended.
