Thread: TB In Hawkes Bay

Originally Posted by TLB

You would think so. But where a large percentage of the Tb popped up in Hawkes Bay the possum numbers are extremely low. Nearly 20 years of control some of it had had and through a lot of that time 1% no line over 1 was the rtc rate. A fair chunk had been rolled out of the Tb Free program as it was declared free of Tb and a large portion of the remaining area in the program was due to be rolled out of the program the year the big outbreak happened.
One of the farms that has got it twice, records show not a single possum has been caught off that property for several years.
No doubt possums have a major role to play in the spread of Tb but also keep in mind that if farmed deer can contract Tb then farms with mobs of 20 plus deer most certainly could too, especially considering a deer will often not seccumb to Tb so can harbor it for a decade or more.

Yes. It is the wild deer population that cant maintain a critical level of TB to be regarded as an important vector. Non 'possum related spread ((animal to animal) is not difficult to stamp out once identified. If 'possum numbers are low in new infection areas it is a blessing.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Yes. It is the wild deer population that cant maintain a critical level of TB to be regarded as an important vector. Non 'possum related spread ((animal to animal) is not difficult to stamp out once identified. If 'possum numbers are low in new infection areas it is a blessing.

Yup..... 'elephant in the room' is what will happen when TB is eradicated from possums in an area, OSPRI work ceases, and possum numbers start to rebuild? There will be the biodiversity issues, and the potential for TB transmission from undetected infections in stock back into the possum population?

So if that occurs then presumably OSPRI will return, but if TB is kept out the biodiversity challenges remain....

Originally Posted by Maxx

Yup..... 'elephant in the room' is what will happen when TB is eradicated from possums in an area, OSPRI work ceases, and possum numbers start to rebuild? There will be the biodiversity issues, and the potential for TB transmission from undetected infections in stock back into the possum population?

So if that occurs then presumably OSPRI will return, but if TB is kept out the biodiversity challenges remain....

That is exactly what happens. Hence Mintie's comment about the possum numbers in HB being on the rise.
Once the blocks are rolled out of the Tb Free program it is up to the council with the farmer self help program. They monitor farms randomly but there are too many to really get around. Whilst some farmers are doing their part some others aren't and some forestry companies are not either.
The other problem is that landowner's without a CSL don't have many options when it comes to filling bait stations and the council really push the use of brodifacoum, which in reality is horrible shite.
Problem is from memory a possum it takes approximately 100 grams of pest off to kill a possum, a sentry bait station doesn't hold all that much bait. So if 3+ possums visit that station then unfortunately there is a chance that they will all just receive a sub lethal dose. People don't have the spare cash to potentially need the stations filled more that once per year so it is what it is.

Oh dear those possums, ferrets and stoats are all bonking away merrily. Would it appropriate for me to send a nice note to Pharlap and ask for the guvment to make it illegal.....their laws are being enacted wholesale and making a huge difference to everything....this is only a small issue so I am sure it would be beneficial.....?