Rabbits invading Waitaki Valley towns may face temporary residency, as the Ahuriri Community Board seeks a way to control them before they start to multiply and get out of control.
So far, the rabbits are mainly of nuisance value, particularly in Otematata and Omarama, and their numbers are below trigger points at which control becomes compulsory.
But Environment Canterbury (ECan) is warning rabbit numbers will quickly increase and cause a serious issue by Christmas. The problem requires urgent attention, it said.
The community board, at its meeting this week, discussed a report on the rabbit numbers.
Community board chairman Craig Dawson said there was an increasing problem, but how to control numbers was the issue.
It asked the Waitaki District Council to investigate control measures and costs before any work started and report to the board.
Mr Dawson said poisoning was an issue because of the people in the towns and pets. Shooting had similar safety and notification issues.
ECan's Timaru-based biosecurity team leader, Brent Glentworth, said rabbit levels were "just compliant" with trigger levels, although rabbits were a nuisance in green and public areas.
He suggested the council use a pest-control contractor to carry out spotlight shooting at night, after extensive community notification of dates and times.
Extreme care would be needed, but shooting was "potentially less controversial than using poison bait", he said.
