Just watching an old episode of country calendar, and I was surprised to see Ferrets being used in Bunny control in NZ.
I was under the impression that they have always been public enemy number 2
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Just watching an old episode of country calendar, and I was surprised to see Ferrets being used in Bunny control in NZ.
I was under the impression that they have always been public enemy number 2
well no, pretty much all introduced species were introduced for a reason rightly or wrongly and even protected till established or out of control.
Im pretty sure theres still an underground group of ferret fanciers who bred them.
Makes sense.Quote:
Originally Posted by veitnamcam
To give an idea of the era, a guy is reloading 223 and says it costs him 20 cents a round
Pengy
My Grandfather was born in Blackball in 1901.
Pop used to tell me him and his mates all had ferrets to hunt rabbits with when they were young boys.
He told me they would find a warren, block as many holes as they can and net a couple more, send a ferret down and wait for the fun to begin.
Probably around 1910-1915 era, He also told me he got into trouble with his father too ...... seems wagging school to got ferreting with your mates wasn't the smartest idea even if you return home with dinner.
During the late 70's and early 80's lots of people started ferret farms to try and cash in on a booming fur trade.
Some of the farms were quite large, but like most things back then it went from bust to boom to bust again in a fairly short space of time.
Cheers
Pete
Interesting Pete. That story reminds me so much of my mind spent youth
Interesting Pete. That story reminds me so much of my mispent youth
Bloody phone.grrrr
Still some in circulation in the rabbiting world today.. I'm under the impression they're just used for fairly specific cases, but very effective when so.
Wild ones are still treated as such and rapidly despatched I'm told.
I can remember getting $60 for a ferret skin when I was a teenager at the local fur traders. But I hate the fuckers now as I did back then (ferrets) that is.
Many farms liberated their ferrets I think into the wild instead of killing them when the market collapsed, shit NZ has done some bright arse things!
Some bright pricks back I the old country " liberated" some farmed Minx. The results were pretty catastrophic, including the wiping out of all of my grandfather's prized goldfish and racing pigeons.
I bet the goldfish couldn't race Pengy:yaeh am not durnk:
They sure as he'll couldn't go faster than the Minx (sp)
After reading these posts, it's the same old story.....introduced species.......whatever the reason/story....
Kind of like Immigration over the centuries.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouser
We were all introduced pests at one time or another ;)
Cheers
Pete
What was your impression of public enemy No1 Pengy ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pengy
The Waterfowl Enhancement Trust were recently asked on FB - what predators are doing the greatest damage to our birdlife - both native and game birds?
They responded - ”It is generally thought that the top two predators are cats and mustelids, however there is no evidence to support this”
I think they may be right but possums and rats are out there in large numbers and are also causing havoc
I was checking traps and bait stations on the farm last Sunday and saw a black cat streak past me - I set a cage but so far have only got one kitten
God knows what damage mum and the rest of them will be doing to our pheasants before I can get them
So what bloody idiots are continually liberating cats up and down the highway - especially at holiday time - they are worse than the people that liberated ferrets years back
You have to be a killing machine to try to protect our environment from predators - when I see wild cats - I sometimes wonder why I bother :pissed off:
keep at it time out,a dead cat is a good cat and a wet pussy is fab:D
pheasant shooting yesterday seen 4 cats and a stoat....... dogs got two of the cats one being delivered to hand still very much alive.
no fucken way I was taking it off her and had to pick up dog, with cat and throw them both in the canal so the cat could be dispatched.