APPENDIX TWO - Q QUESTIONNAIRE ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE CONTROL OF POSSUMS AND RABBITS
Phone number: ( ) .................................... Location ......................................
Date ........../................. Time .............am / pm. Case no
Hello, my name is ......... from SRS . We are conducting a survey on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture & Landcare Research . I would appreciate if I could talk to the person in your household aged 18 or over who normally lives there, is at home now, and who most recently had their birthday.
[On contact]: This survey concerns the control of possums and rabbits in NZ and related environmental issues. We would like your opinions on some matters relating to these animals and how they can be controlled. The survey should take approx. 30 minutes.
Q1. Please answer "yes" or "no" to the following questions regarding your personal experience of possums. ( DK=9) Have you ever
Yes =1, No = 2, dk = 9
| - seen a live possum | |
| - seen a dead possum | |
| - had a problem with possums | |
| - hunted or trapped possums | |
| Do you know anyone who has hunted or trapped possums | |
| Have you ever personally seen: | |
| - possum damage to crops | |
| - possum damage in gardens | |
| - possum damage in native bush | |
| - possum control operations | |
| Have you ever been involved with possum control operations |
Q2. We would like to get your opinions on possums generally. Could you tell us whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements
Agree = 1; Neither agree nor disagree = 2; Disagree = 3; dk = 9
| Possums are basically harmless | |
| Possums are native to NZ | |
| Possums are cute, furry animals | |
| Possums are a problem in NZ | |
| Possums carry Bovine Tuberculosis | |
| Possums are a threat to NZs overseas trade | |
| Possums are a threat to NZ birdlife | |
| Possums are a threat to NZ's native bush | |
| Possums are a concern to me |
Q3. "Were you aware that possums are officially classified as a pest in New
Zealand?" yes =1, no =2 
Q4. Is Bovine Tuberculosis a problem where you live? yes= 1, no =2, DK =9 
Q4a. Do you know any farmers with Bovine Tuberculosis on their farms?
Yes= 1,No =2 ,DK =9 
Q5a. Could you please tell us what you think is the level of risk to NZ's environment, of doing each of the following to control possums. Use the scale no risk, low risk, moderate risk, high risk. [-use list on table below i.e. "not controlling possums" etc.]. [code on table ]
Q5b. Could you please tell us what you think is the level of risk to NZ's economy of doing each of the following to control possums. [code on table below]
Q5c. Could you please tell us what you think is the level of risk to people's health of doing each of the following to control possums.
| 0 = no risk, 1 = low risk, 2 = moderate risk, 3 = high risk, 9 = dk; 8 = don't understand |
| 5a - Risk to NZ's environment | 5b - Risk to NZ's economy | 5c - Risk to people's health |
|
| Not controlling possums | |||
| Aerial use of 1080 poisoned bait | |||
| Importing a naturally occurring possum-specific parasite | |||
| Importing a naturally occurring possum-specific bacteria | |||
| Importing a naturally occurring possum-specific virus | |||
| Releasing a genetically engineered organism that would attack only
possums (PROMPT: Releasing an organism which has been modified to attack only possums) |
6. Using a scale where 1 means "very unacceptable", and 5 means "very acceptable", how acceptable to you are the following methods for killing possums? code 1 - 5; dk = 9
| Trapping | |
| Shooting | |
| Ground laying of 1080 poisoned bait | |
| Aerial drops of 1080 poisoned bait | |
| Another poison (like talon or cyanide) | |
| A poison which killed only possums | |
| An imported naturally-occurring possum specific parasite | |
| An imported naturally-occurring possum specific bacteria | |
| An imported naturally-occurring possum specific virus | |
| A genetically engineered organism that would kill only possums (PROMPT: An organism which has been modified to attack only possums) |
Q7. Have you heard of the term "biological control of pests" Yes=
1,No =2 ,DK =9 
Q7a. if yes to Q7 Which one of the following best describes the extent to which you have heard of biological control? [code 1, 2 or 9 = dk - leave box blank if 'no" to Q7 ]
(1) =I have heard of this but know little or nothing about it
(2) = I have heard about this and I could explain it to a friend 
For the purposes of the next few questions biological control is the limiting or controlling of a pest by the use of other living organisms. These organisms range from other animals or plants to insects and microbes. [prompt only - "a current NZ example is the control of wasps by the use of an introduced parasite"]
Q8. Using a scale where 1 means "very unacceptable", and 5 means "very acceptable" how acceptable would the following be as methods of biological control for possums
| code 1 - 5; dk = 9 |
| - a method which stops possums breeding | |
| - a method which kills young in the pouch | |
| - a method which prevents possums getting bovine TB | |
| - a method which makes possums more susceptible to natural diseases |
Q9. How important are the following safeguards in developing biological control for possums
Would you say unimportant, quite important or essential
| code 1= unimportant; 2= quite important; 3 = essential; 8 = du; 9 = dk |
| the biological control agent should not affect animals other than possums | |
| the biological control agent should not require another organism to spread it | |
| the biological control method should be humane | |
| the biological control agent should be unable to spread outside New Zealand | |
| the biological control agent should not affect humans |
Now turning to rabbits and their control
Q10. Could you tell us whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements
| code -1= Agree; 2 = Neither agree nor disagree; 3 = Disagree dk = 9 |
| Rabbits are: | |
| basically harmless | |
| cute & furry animals | |
| native to New Zealand | |
| a source of meat and fur | |
| eaten by ferrets and wild cats | |
| a problem throughout New Zealand | |
| a problem in only some areas of New Zealand | |
| a concern to me | |
| Rabbits cause environmental damage | |
| Rabbits cause a loss in farm production |
Q11. Is there a problem with rabbits in the area where you live?
yes = 1;no = 2; dk= 9 ) 
Q12. Using a scale where 1 means "very unacceptable", and 5 means "very acceptable", how acceptable to you are the following methods for killing rabbits?
| code 1 - 5; dk = 9 |
| Trapping | |
| Shooting | |
| Aerial use of 1080 poison bait | |
| Use of other poisons (such as pindone) | |
| An imported naturally occurring virus which is specific to rabbits | |
| An organism which has been genetically engineered or modified to kill only rabbits |
13. A naturally occurring virus that kills rabbits has been identified and is presently being tested in Australia. (It is called RCD for short). Overseas experience is that this virus is specific to rabbits, and is humane as a form of rabbit control. Do you think this virus should be introduced to New Zealand ?
yes=1, no=2, depends =3, dk=9 
if "yes" or "no": ask - "why"
If "depends": ask - "Depends on what"
[Probe if necessary:] "can you be more specific?"
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________
14. Organisms are being modified or developed for use in a wide range of human activities. Using a scale where 1 means "very unacceptable", and 5 means "very acceptable", how acceptable to you is the use of such organisms for the following:
code 1 - 5; du= 8, dk=9
| treatment of human diseases | |
| development of vaccines to prevent animal diseases | |
| increasing quantity or quality of agricultural products such as meat, milk and vegetables | |
| production of medical drugs for humans | |
| control of pest plants or weeds | |
| control of insect pests | |
| control of animal pests |
Respondent Characteristics:
15. Which of the following age groups do you belong to:
1 = under 20
2 = 20 -29;
3 = 30-39;
4 = 40-49;
5 = 50-59,
6 = 60 or over[code 1 - 6] 
16. What is your usual occupation: .______________________________________
17. At present, are you an urban or rural resident? [1 = urban; 2= rural]
18. Gender: male/female[1 = male; 2 = female] 
19. Have you ever?
1 = Owned or worked on a farm _____
2 = Lived in a rural area_____
[3 = Both0 = neither][code 0 - 3] 
20. Are you/have you ever been (yes / no)
code 1= yes; 2 = no, dk=9
| a member of RSPCA | |
| any other animal welfare organisation |
| if yes which one: r |
| a member of a conservation or environmental organisation |
| if yes , which one: r |
Q21.Now we have a final question which has a number of parts: I'd like you to think about some aspects of possum control in New Zealand and how they relate to each other. I'm going to read out some ideas in pairs, and I would like you to estimate how different or "far apart" each of the pairs of ideas are. If you think the two ideas are far apart use a large number. If you think they are close together use a small number. Use a scale from 0 to 100.
(note: non-response & DK leave blank)
How far apart are . . .
Trapping possums and Effective _____
Poisoning possums and Effective _____
Biological control of possums and Effective _____
Harvesting possums for fur and Effective _____
[check that person is using the scale correctly - large nos. for far apart, small for close together]
Trapping and Affordable _____
Poisoning and Affordable _____
Biological control and Affordable _____
Harvesting possums for fur and Affordable _____
Trapping and Safe _____
Poisoning and Safe _____
Biological control and Safe _____
Harvesting possums for fur and Safe _____
Trapping and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Poisoning and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Biological control and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Harvesting possums for fur and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Trapping and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Poisoning and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Biological control and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Harvesting possums for fur and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Trapping and Acceptable _____
Poisoning and Acceptable _____
Biological control and Acceptable _____
Harvesting possums for fur and Acceptable _____
Trapping and You _____
Poisoning and You _____
Biological control and You _____
Harvesting possums for fur and You _____
Trapping and Poisoning _____
Trapping and Biological control _____
Trapping and Harvesting possums for fur _____
Poisoning and Biological control _____
Poisoning and Harvesting possums for fur _____
Biological control and Harvesting possums for fur _____
Effective and Affordable _____
Effective and Safe _____
Effective and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Effective and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Effective and Acceptable _____
Effective and You _____
Affordable and Safe _____
Affordable and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Affordable and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Affordable and Acceptable _____
Affordable and You _____
Safe and Reducing the amount of Bovine TB _____
Safe and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Safe and Acceptable _____
Safe and You _____
Reducing the amount of Bovine TB and Protecting native plants and animals _____
Reducing the amount of Bovine TB and Acceptable _____
Reducing the amount of Bovine TB and You _____
Protecting native plants and animals and Acceptable _____
Protecting native plants and animals and You _____
Acceptable and You _____
Possums and Agricultural pest _____
Possums and A rural problem _____
Possums and An urban problem _____
Wind up - express thanks for their co-operation etc.
Time taken: ............. mins
Contact for Enquiries
Manager, Strategic Science Team
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0115
Fax: +64 4 894 0731
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