A Hobsons Bay wildlife rescuer says pindone rabbit baiting being undertaken at Altona’s Cherry Lake causes an agonising and inhumane death and is urging Melbourne Water to find a better solution.
Rabbit baiting started this month at the lake and will commence along Kororoit Creek in coming months.
Altona’s Grace Garbowski says Melbourne Water should find an humane alternative solution to rabbit control instead of using a bait opposed by the RSPCA.
“Pindone is an anticoagulant that kills by interfering with the blood clotting system, causing fatal hemorrhage and 14 days of severe agony during which time the rabbits bleed profusely,” she said.
“To cause suffering of this level for more than a week on introduced or native species is barbaric beyond belief.
“RSPCA are in opposition to such methods of pindone rabbit baiting, stating that due to the prolonged agonising suffering of the animals … it is considered inhumane and unacceptable.”
She said native animals and pets were also at risk of swallowing bait or scavenging a poisoned rabbit.
“There is a lack of visible signage and warnings erected on site and members of the public are still allowing unrestrained pets to roam the conservation zone, claiming they don’t know anything about the pindone rabbit baiting let alone what risks it poses to domestic animals.”
Melbourne Water did not address the issue of whether pindone caused an inhumane death but said it was considered a safe urban option because an antidote was available for pets who accidentally swallowed bait. It said baits were laid at dusk when birds typically didn’t feed.
Manager Cameron Howie said the organisation had a long history of controlling pest animals in line with best practice under Victorian government regulations.
“We have a responsibility to manage destructive pest populations while minimising risks to native animals as well as people and their pets,” he said.
“Rabbits are an introduced pest species and population control is needed to protect vulnerable and endangered native plants and animals at Cherry Lake.
“The method of rabbit control that has been selected is the most appropriate for an urban environment, as it is the most effective while posing the least risk to native and domestic animals.”
Melbourne Water said the rabbit population around Cherry Lake area had myxomatosis and rabbit calicivirus disease, both of which could be fatal.
RSPCA spokeswoman Meagan Patroni confirmed the organisation opposed pindone baiting. “We don’t think it’s humane,” she said.
