PEST CONTROL: Rabbit calicivirus is to be released in parts of the Manawatu-Wanganui region this month.
Horizons Regional Council calls it a controlled release to reduce the impacts of localised rabbit populations.
Animal security environmental management co-ordinator Eric Dodd said yesterday the virus would be used where conventional control methods such as shooting and poisoning would not be effective or were impractical.
Sites close to centres of population or those in high public use were being treated with the virus.
Mr Dodd said the intention was that rabbits would eat infected bait and die rather than pass the virus on to other rabbits.
Pet rabbits should not be at risk. However, if owners were concerned they could have their pets vaccinated by a veterinarian.
The timing of the virus release would accentuate its ability to infect rabbits before the breeding season began.
Food sources were scarce during the winter and rabbits were looking to put on condition before the breeding season.
Callers told Horizons that rabbits were digging round cemeteries and damaging some grave sites.
Mr Dodd said Horizons had protocols for using the virus. Research provided reassurance the virus affected only European rabbits.
"It will not affect the native bird population."
Horizons to release rabbit virus
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