What are your thoughts on the use of 1080 against pests such as possums?

Question

trancenova · Answer

Ah! In New Zealand yes? Well in Western Australia I have no qualms about baiting with 1080 for cats, dogs and foxes. This is because without baiting many native animals are simply driven to extinction. This leaves not only the problem of loosing unique natives but also the risk of ecological destruction. I imagine the case of the possum is much the same, you either bait, risking peoples pets who are silly enough to take them into signposted areas (well they're signposted in Australia) or risking the entire ecosystem in which not only the animals and the plants rely upon, but people too.