1080 Kill Calculations

Hugh Barr produced figures which show that 0.15% 1080/kg spread at 3 kg/ha
provides enough lethal doses to kill 1250 possums per hectare.
Using Hugh's figures the following calculations apply:-

If the baits are laid at this rate: 2 kg/ha.

Then there will be enough lethal doses supplied to kill 833 possums/ha.

If the bait weights are 12 gms/bait.

Then the number of baits applied per hectare is 167 baits/ha.

And each bait is capable of killing 5 possums/bait.

If the baits are laid over this much area: 34,800 hectares.

Then this many baits will be applied to the treatment area: 5,800,000 baits.

And enough poison will be distributed to theoretically kill: 29,000,000 possums.

Or 522,000 humans,

Or 59,647,200 dogs,

Or 2,621,600 deer,

Or 13,061,600 weka.

Be prepared to discuss the fact that each 12 gram bait (for example) is capable of killing 5 possums but 5 possums are not going to feed off each bait.
Many possums will eat a whole bait (or more) and have excess poison in their system when they die - hence secondary kill.

The other side of this argument is the fact that baits break up during the delivery process. In my recent audit of delivered baits the average weight of '12 gram baits' was 10 grams which makes more bait available per hectare for possums to feed on and if the bait is broken to 2.3 gram size then that one bait can kill one possum.