Abstract

"One of the main problems in the establishment of a tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus ssp. palmensis) plantation is damage produced by lagomorphs (hares and rabbits). The objective of this research was to evaluate simple, non-toxic methods of preventing damage to new plantations of tagasaste. The methods evaluated were physical and chemical. The former were two kinds of plastic mesh cylinders and an especially designed electric wire fence; the latter were two commercial repellents, Tetramethyl tiuram disulfur and Denatonium benzoate and timol, as well as bovine blood treated with anticoagulant. The results showed that the electric fence reduced the hare attacks by 100% and the thick hexagonal cylinder was of average effectiveness. The thin hexagonal cylinder, chemical repellent and blood were ineffective."