The ACT Government is advising visitors to Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve that closing hours for the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary will be extended for a two week period starting next week to allow for the ongoing program to control rabbit and hare populations.
“The Sanctuary will be closed from 1 am to 8 am on Monday 30 November 2015. It will then be closed 6 pm to 8 am nightly from the evening of Monday 30 November 2015 to the morning of Friday 4 December 2015,” Ranger-in-Charge, Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, Mark Sweaney, said.
“These closures will be repeated the following week from 1 am to 8 am on Monday 7 December 2015, and then 6 pm to 8 am nightly from the evening of Monday 7 December 2015 to the morning of Friday 10 December 2015.
“The control program involves shooting and fumigation methods undertaken by highly qualified ACT Government rangers. This is a jointly funded program between the Capital Woodlands and Wetlands Conservation Trust and the ACT Government, and is an essential component of our scheduled control program.
“The program allows our rangers to actively search for rabbits and hares and to reassess previously controlled locations. Since the formation of the Sanctuary in 2009, the ACT Government has been actively controlling feral pest species. The most recent monitoring results indicate that the rabbit numbers are currently at an extremely low level, a testament to our control efforts over the years.
Mr Sweaney said operations will cease over the Christmas and New Year’s break meaning the sanctuary will be open at all times to the public between the dates of Friday 18 December 2015 through to Monday 4 January 2016 when the program will recommence.
Notification signage is in place at all public entrances to the reserve to alert people to the closure. As this is an ongoing project, the public will be notified if further work is done in the area.
For enquiries on the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary rabbit and hare control program please call Access Canberra on 13 22 81.