RabbitsContact Us

lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/greater-sydney

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admin.greatersydney@lls.nsw.gov.au

1300 795 299

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For more information contact Greater Sydney Local Land Services on

1300 795 299.

You can also record sightings and activity via

FeralScan www.feralscan.org.au

Harbour destruction

• Destruction of warrens is an essential part of a control program.

• Warrens can be destroyed using a tractor or bulldozer.

• Removal of rabbit harbour such as timber and rubbish piles and woody weeds is also recommended.

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (Calicivirus)

• Greater Sydney Local Land Services coordinates an annual virus release of RHDV K5 in partnership with local councils and landholders.

• There are multiple strains of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV). RHDV2 naturally occurring in the population, and no vaccination exists.

• This is a biological control agent causing death in 48-72 hours, with a mortality rate of up to 40 percent in susceptible populations.

• Immunity can cause nil results in some populations and RHDV K5 is not effective on kittens, who have a natural immunity for the first 8-10 weeks of life.

• Just like you do with domestic dogs and cats, pet rabbit owners should get their animals vaccinated for RHDV K5.

European rabbits are Australia’s most widespread and destructive environmental and agricultural vertebrate pest.

Rabbits graze on native and introduced vegetation, crops and pastures. Rabbit grazing can prevent seedlings from regenerating, reduce crop yields and compete with livestock for feed. They damage native plants and directly compete with wildlife for food and shelter. Their digging and browsing leads to a loss of vegetation cover, which can result in slope instability and soil erosion.

There are at least 304 Australian threatened species that may be adversely affected by rabbits.

Control options

In most cases, a combination of one or more of the below control methods will be most effective.

Baiting

• 1080 and Pindone are the only registered poisons used for rabbit control. Both require a minimum of three free feeds to encourage rabbits to eat the baited food and monitor if any non-target animals could be at risk. Pindone baiting requires at least two feeds to ensure the poison takes effect and can be used only on properties larger than 1000 square metres.

• 1080 is used for rabbits on larger properties and must be handled by someone legally trained in poison use.

• Reduces large populations quickly and is cost effective

Fumigation

• This technique is used when rabbits are harbouring in burrows or warrens and should be carried out by a licensed contractor.

Rabbits

Signs of rabbits

Look out for the following signs of rabbits around your property

• Warrens

• Bare patches of earth

• Small scratchings in the earth

• Droppings and scratching around dead and fallen timber and rubbish piles

• Fresh dug up earth