Rabbit control in the Mackenzie Pest Destruction Board : A case study for an advanced diploma dissertation

Abstract

This paper examines rabbit control in the Mackenzie Pest Destruction Board from an economic and physical point of view. This Board has now become part of an amalgamated board called the Mackenzie Basin Pest Destruction Board. In this new Board this study area is known as Burkes Pass. For the purposes of this paper I'm referring to this area as the Mackenzie Pest Destruction Board - abbreviated to M.P.D.B. This Board is situated in the Upper Waitaki Valley, South Canterbury as shown on the map, page 2. In this paper the term "rabbit prone" is used a lot. This is taken to mean areas which naturally support high population levels of rabbits. The conclusion of this report will hopefully give an accurate assessment of how the M.P.D.B. is performing in terms of control effectiveness and economics at present. And by using other information discussed in this paper future options will be outlined. In using the M.P.D.B. as a case study I feel that a lot of the information outlined and conclusions should be applicable to much of the country.