Thread: SPCA call out 1080 for what it is - good on you !!

It all comes down to dollars. From memory it cost 11 million just to build the fence. That's before any pest work was done. The eradication job used brodificoum which is far more detrimental to the environment than 1080 due to it's bioaccumulation. I shudder to think how much we spread up there when I was there.
On top of that you need to employ staff to maintain the fence, respond to incursions (trees fall over smash the fence, pests get in.) And you need staff to look after the re reintroductions.
Your 30 million will get you 2 Maungatautaris if you are lucky.

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

It all comes down to dollars. From memory it cost 11 million just to build the fence. That's before any pest work was done. The eradication job used brodificoum which is far more detrimental to the environment than 1080 due to it's bioaccumulation. I shudder to think how much we spread up there when I was there.
On top of that you need to employ staff to maintain the fence, respond to incursions (trees fall over smash the fence, pests get in.) And you need staff to look after the re reintroductions.
Your 30 million will get you 2 Maungatautaris if you are lucky.

Yep, so this current mob have got 3 yrs x 30M/yr .... so we get 6 Maungatautaris
Much better investment with a half decent chance of success.
In fact Shane Jones still has a billion or two in his regional dev fund. Go knock yourselves out and build 20 - 30 of them.
Much better investment than half the Farkn shit they are spending it on now

I read somewhere (on the internet so it must be true) that even with predator fences you still have to create and maintain buffer zone with traps/poison etc. If you have to do that, why bother with the expense of the fence in the first place? Make the island a bit bigger and increase the concentration of control measures in the buffer zone.

And another thing!
If a biological control is found, how long before F&B and the eco fundamentalists decide to develop a similar control for our game species? If you think they will stop at the little pesties you're dreaming.

Originally Posted by imaca

I read somewhere (on the internet so it must be true) that even with predator fences you still have to create and maintain buffer zone with traps/poison etc. If you have to do that, why bother with the expense of the fence in the first place? Make the island a bit bigger and increase the concentration of control measures in the buffer zone.

And another thing!
If a biological control is found, how long before F&B and the eco fundamentalists decide to develop a similar control for our game species? If you think they will stop at the little pesties you're dreaming.

There in lies just part of the problem. As mentioned, if we can do it for possums what happens if it jumps the ditch? (Or is taken over deliberately by someone....)
Or if it can be developed for rabbits and possums, how long before a terrorist type person develops it for mankind? That is where these "advanced targeted controls"really get scary. Armageddon scary. Apocalypse scary. You just cannot prepare for "Get sick and die" scenarios.

Isn't this "introducing a biological control" scenario what got us here to start with?

Originally Posted by timattalon

There in lies just part of the problem. As mentioned, if we can do it for possums what happens if it jumps the ditch? (Or is taken over deliberately by someone....)
Or if it can be developed for rabbits and possums, how long before a terrorist type person develops it for mankind? That is where these "advanced targeted controls"really get scary. Armageddon scary. Apocalypse scary. You just cannot prepare for "Get sick and die" scenarios.

Isn't this "introducing a biological control" scenario what got us here to start with?

Same worry with the A bomb? Now one of those, er two and a small strategic one would fix the prob for about ........ at least 1000 yrs

Originally Posted by imaca

If a biological control is found, how long before F&B and the eco fundamentalists decide to develop a similar control for our game species? If you think they will stop at the little pesties you're dreaming.

Don't forget, there are no games species apart from trout and ducks, the rest are all pests.

The Australians would kick up a hell of a stink if we used biological or gene control on our 'possums. Their's are strictly protected and wouldn't want it jumping into their population.

Originally Posted by Tahr

The Australians would kick up a hell of a stink if we used biological or gene control on our 'possums. Their's are strictly protected and wouldn't want it jumping into their population.

These are excuses really, a block to forward motion?

Sounds like the only thing that will work is if humans do their duty and function as a top predator, on an ongoing basis. Eradication won't work clearly. Need more hunters who spend less time on forums, more out there predating. Pointing at myself here... )-: