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Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the (i) cost, (ii) start date, (iii) planned completion date and (iv) objectives of the research studies (a) developing a visual scaring device to deter rabbits, (b) developing a rabbit management system, (c) developing a method for assessing the size of rabbit population and (d) rabbit behaviour and population dynamics at fenced hot spots; and in the case of (a) what devices have been considered to date. [75624] Mr. Rooker: The information is as follows: (a) Developing a visual scaring device to deter rabbits. (i) £114,000 (total). (ii) 1 April 1998. (iii) 31 March 2001. (iv) To produce and test a prototype scaring device based on a light beam and adapted to prevent the development of habituation by rabbits. The research is at early stage. Research to date has involved assessing the response of rabbits to light beams to provide a baseline against which to measure the effectiveness of anti-habituation techniques. (b) Developing a rabbit management expert system. (i) £619,000 (total). (ii) 1 April 1998. (iii) 31 March 2002. (iv) To produce yield loss models to calculate the losses caused by rabbits to spring barley and grass and to obtain additional data on rabbit populations to incorporate into an expert system. (c) Developing a method for assessing the size of rabbit populations. (i) £154,000 (total). (ii) 1 April 1998. (iii) 31 March 2001. (iv) To develop a method under controlled conditions for assessing rabbit abundance. (d) Rabbit behaviour and population dynamics at fence hot-spots. (i) £217,000 (total). (ii) 1 April 1998. (iii) 31 March 2001. (iv) To determine the effects of erecting fencing on rabbit population dynamics and ranging behaviour.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

75624; 327 c545-6W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Expenditure Pest control Research Walls and fences Rabbits

Contains statistics

Yes