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Ferrets stoats, and weasels were introduced to hunt rabbits in New Zealand. The only problem though was that they found it a lot easier to go after native bird
by toomanybeersies 9y ago
Ferrets stoats, and weasels were introduced to hunt rabbits in New Zealand.
The only problem though was that they found it a lot easier to go after native birds and largely ignored rabbits as a consequence. I did see a weasel chasing after a rabbit once though.
They apparently considered introducing mountain lions to keep deer and goat numbers down in the 40's. Thank the gods someone stopped and though about how much of a bad idea that would be.
- eesmith 9y agoWere they introduced to eradicate the animals, to keep the population down, or to help humans hunt rabbits for food and fur? Once the mountain lions get out of control the next step is to introduce elephants, at least according to my childhood readings.
- toomanybeersies 9y agoThey were introduced to keep the numbers down as they are the natural predator of rabbits. Australia also introduced ferrets and foxes to keep rabbit numbers down. Ferrets don't seem to have had as much of a negative impact as in NZ, but foxes are a big problem.
- eesmith 9y agoThanks! https://www.thespruce.com/ferret-ban-in-new-zealand-1236786 https://www.thespruce.com/ferret-ban-in-new-zealand-1236786 elaborates "Ferrets were introduced to New Zealand from Europe in the 1880s, along with stoats and weasels, to control rabbits that were breeding out of control." (It's much easier to find the answer when one know it's there. :)