Should New Zealand continue to use 1080? or should they stop?

Question

In New Zealand they are using 1080 poison that they drop from helicopters to kill off deer, rabbits, birds, bears and anything that breathes. in order to "keep it green" so the animals dont eat all the plants, or something like that. what is YOUR opinion on this?

hould they keep doing it, or should they stop?

and explane why you think that.

Answer 1

I agree with Grant;

I haven't seen a bear here now for 175 years so the 1080 must be working.

Without 1080 (or an alternative that is yet to be discovered) our trees would be completely defoliated.

They die. The birds then die.

The environment turns to desert.

And wow!

The world's got enough deserts now without adding to the area.

If you can come up with an alternative and practical way of killing off the deer and the possums, we would very much like to hear about it.

The "Greenies" who want to ban the trade in possum fur are proving they are either thick or anything but "green" (or perhaps both).

By banning this trade they are giving their approval to the total annihalation of all the forests and bush of this country.

Answer 2

Hey, it really worked on those bears! Not many left now.

Fact is we have millions of an invasive species that eats shoots and foliage and eventually kills trees. Once the trees go, so do the birds. We have a choice - control the numbers of an introduced species or make extinct bird species that exist only here.

The only effective way is poisoning. Sad but true.

Answer 3

In NZ there is no need to do air drops.

My partner has been a hunter/ trapper for years.

Bait stations are more effective, thus only eradicating the pests they are intended for.

It is heart breaking when a family going for a nature walk, have their pet dog killed because of 1080

Unborn babies have also been affected by this senseless act.

1080 is killing all our flightless prescious species, like Kiwi.

It gets into our waterways, a lot of households farms etc, rely on rivers for their water supplies.

I'm sorry I could go on.

I hope this has clarified a few things for you.

Answer 4

Despite what others may say, many of the species that have to be saved are targeted by the species that need to be eradicated.

Possums are a classic example, and in dodgy areas DOC uses other methods, so yes I think we still need to use it, until something better comes along.

Answer 5

Firstly, get your facts right - there are no bears in New Zealand.

1080 poison only kills animals that ingest baits and these animals are predominantly opossums which are a pest  imported from Australia. Opossums spread TB to cattle hence the eradication by 1080 - cattle are more useful than these pests.

Handled properly 1080 is effective and relatively safe if left alone.

Please do not spread hysteria about these measures unless you have all the facts correct.