Also, rabbit haemorrhagic disease, which was investigated as a possible agent, then "escaped" from the lab "accidentally". Both didn't really work long-term.
This sort of reminds me of the rat control system the Canadian province of Alberta has in place[1]. Since Alberta is bordered on one side by the Rockies, you only need to control the Eastern plains to stop them from moving in. The "rat control zone" extends from the US border and up along the Saskatchewan border about half way.
Since Alberta grows a lot of wheat and other grains, there is value in limiting the presence of rats.
In addition to setting traps and poison along the rat control zone, they also have official rat control officers that search farms and shoot any rats they find. [2]
They have found a number of rats in recent years, so there is some doubt that Alberta has remained truly "rat free".[3]
Not sure why this is in HN but I want one! This is the first year I've had a rabbit problem (Western Oregon) so now I'll have to think of ways of keeping deer as well as rabbits out of my garden.
I put in a black poly deer fence around the back yard. 8 feet high with 2 inch grid. Smaller grids trap birds, which is undesirable. Its practically invisible, and was very easy to put in (deerbusters.com). One of the neighbors didn't notice it for 6 months.
In the front yard, I've had very good luck with cow bells and fishing line. One end of the line gets attached to a fixed object, and the other to the cow bell. String the line along so that it is 2 or 3 feet above the ground, with support about every 10 to 15 feet. Set the cowbell on something like a bucket so it will drop when the line gets pulled.
The deer hit the line, but the noise is at a distance and freaks them out.
I started with a portion of the yard, disrupting their normal routes, and gradually pushed to the edges.
This spring our gardens have been absolutely amazing, and no deer damage.
Unfortunately when most homeowners are living on 20' * 100' subdivisioned plot of land, giving up a few feet of perimeter real estate is next to impossible.
Perhaps we will begin to see gated communities that promise to keep deer and wildlife out of residents' backyards?
A smaller version of the australian rabbit fence if you will.
every cellphone has a converter.. here is your chance to use it.
Just for reference.. in India.. we sometimes use the American counting method (millions, billions) .. and sometimes the native one (lakhs, crores) alternatively.
its easier than the mile/km conversion though.. since
10 lakh = 1 million, 100crore= 1 billion
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/science/earth/14fenc.html