1080 milk scam

I think that the 1080 milk scam is not to kill a whole lot of people or something like that, but the people that started it are trying to warn the world, especially New Zealand, of the dangers of 1080. Surely, sooner or later, some water that is poisoned is going to be absorbed by a plant and/or eaten by livestock, giving poisoned meat, poisoned milk, or poisoned cabbages.

The reason they targeted babies not adults, is because people would be freaked out if all the babies in New Zealand suddenly died. In reality, 1080 on the loose is a danger for every living thing- not just babies and possums. There is no point in destroying the environment, especially water systems, to stop something else destroying the environment.  Surely there is a better way of getting rid of possums?