I found this excellent and thoughtful article on the use of 1080 in New Zealand by Nicola Toki:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/in-our-nature/8954961/Why-1080-is-a-dirty-word
I dislike the use of this toxic crap as I have remarked previously on this blog. I don't like that it destroys non-target animal life. Yes it kills predators, but also their prey. The very animals we are trying to protect.
"Oh look. We killed over 1000 possums!"
"Yeah. You did. Shame about the last Spotted Kiwi in NZ dying too."
The biggest problem I have with 1080 is that you can never win with it. Stop dropping the stuff and the predator population springs back. Much in the same way that myxomatosis initially knocked back rabbits. Well, they're back. Not only back, rabbits have flooded back into the areas that were so nearly cleared out.
According to the experts, the only way to stay ahead of the game is to keep pouring 1080 into our native bush. For ever.
I don't think so.
I was once asked for my solution. I came up with the idea of genetic modification of the predator species. What if the predator could be manipulated to only give birth to sterile or male offspring? Game over, stoat! Weasel out of that one.
The natural consequence of this sort of population control is that it is species specific and ongoing. You can imagine the population dropping by massive amounts in just a few years as the population becomes increasingly sterile, male or both.
It's a thought, and one that would find a great deal of public support. Unlike 1080.
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