Rural Radio Reports - Animals and birds declared vermin

Animals and birds are declared vermin by the Agriculture Protection Board if they are a threat to primary industry

Myxomatosis - Its progress and future in W.A.

Few people would have believed in 1951, that the huge rabbit population of Western Australia—estimated at over 50 millions—would have been reduced to the present low numbers. It was in 1951, that the Director of Agriculture, Mr. Baron Hay, arranged for some myxomatosis virus to be made available to Western Australia. The Veterinary Branch of the Department obtained a small supply, and in conjunction with the Agriculture Protection Board and Government Entomologist carried out initial trials. These were at Muresk, and on Mr. D. E. Ludeman\u27s property at Bejoording where a low-grade infection was started

Vermin control in W.A

THE annual report of the Agriculture Protection Board of W.A. for 1958-1959 indicated that while vermin control had continued at a relatively high standard throughout the State, most of the animal and bird pests were at the lowest level within the memory of most people. However, there were ample warnings that any relaxation in control work could have rapid and serious consequences

The success of the rabbit \u27killer\u27 trials

SUCCESS well beyond what was anticipated has been achieved in a two year trial of a modified version of the rabbit killer method. In the killer method, trained officers are employed to kill rabbits instead of to inspect and supervise the activities of farmers and, in fact, these officers do all the actual work of destruction. This system was advocated by the W.A. Royal Commission which reported on Vermin Control in this State in 1944, and it was used successfully in New Zealand. These trials were applied only to poisoning and not to overall destruction measures. The main object was to see if rabbits could be brought under control and kept there by standard poisoning procedure

As cunning as a fox

As cunning as a fox is a popular saying, but are foxes as cunning as the words imply? After all, they are not really difficult to destroy. I think all farmers will agree that foxes are always a serious menace at lambing time, and everything possible should be done to keep them in check, particularly in a season such as this when breeding ewes will possibly be weakened

A century of rabbits

The year 1959 cannot be allowed to pass without mention of the centenary of an event which probably has affected Australia\u27s primary production more than any other single factor. A century ago, the rabbits which were eventually to spread over the whole continent, arrived in Australia. The almost incredible cost of this introduction to Australia—it must amount to hundreds or even thousands of millions of pounds— and the stranglehold they have exercised over the rural industry should mark the day they were landed as one of the blackest in our history. Although it is not a centenary to be celebrated it is one that none of us can afford to forget

What are vermin?

ACCORDING to one dictionary the term \u27vermin\u27includes mammals and birds injurious to game or crops , rats and mice , noxious insects , parasitic worms and even vile persons

Organised vermin control.

The struggle between man and his animal enemies is never-ending. It commenced when our early forefathers battled for existence. It continues now, and no doubt will go on indefinitely. Here in Western Australia, our primary industries would be ruined, and our homes rendered uninhabitable if we did not fight unceasingly against the larger animals and the insects. Book review - Sheep shearing experting/ L.D. Ryan p. 60

Vermin symposium report : wanted : a new approach to rabbit control

THE main reason why rabbits have not increased as rapidly as their amazing capabilities might have led people to expect has been a series of years not suitable for full breeding. This has been more important than myxomatosis and 1080 . This was one of the thoughts taken away by those who attended the rabbit control symposium held in Perth recently

The rabbit population in W.A.

So much misunderstanding and confusion regarding the rabbit position in Western Australia appears to have arisen that possibly a brief explanation may be of help. Most of the difficulties seem to come from misunderstanding and misquoting of reports made by my officers and myself. For instance, I am supposed to have said that rabbits had increased ten times throughout Western Australia and also that they are present in plague form. Such allegations are obviously absurd, particularly as so much care has been taken to keep reports factual