Rabbit Control

 

Rabbits are a direct threat to indigenous vegetation and seriously disadvantage native animals due to competition for food and habitat. Rabbits cause soil instability and land degradation, threatening the environment, undermining structural assets and contributing to losses in agriculture. Rabbit populations contribute to and support populations of introduced cats and foxes.

What are my options?

To significantly reduce rabbit populations, control requires a combination of control methods. No single control method will work on its own. To be most effective control needs to include a multiple approach.

Available options are:

  • Physical control – e.g. removal of dense exotic weeds such as Blackberry / English Ivy; barriers to other harbour such as use of small gauge chicken wire around decking and wood piles (remember to allow a large enough ‘lip’ to prevent rabbits digging under); warren ripping (where appropriate); trapping using nets and ferrets
  • Chemical control – e.g. Poison baiting and warren fumigation
  • Biological control– e.g. Calicivirus

BAITING USING PINDONE OATS

Pindone poison is available over the counter and does not require a licence. Pindone works according to body weight and the risk of off target poisoning of sheep, dogs and cattle is low. Vitamin K is an effective antidote if administered quickly. Pindone is an animal ethics approved method of rabbit control.

Pindone oats are less perishable than carrot baits the poison coated husk is not consumed by birds. Pindone oats is preferred to 1080 to mitigate off target damage to native wildlife. Distance restrictions dictate that Pindone Baiting is only suitable for properties greater than 1000 square meters.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BAIT?

Late summer/early autumn, when alternative food is scarce is the best time to bait. Baiting is less effective during the breeding season.

ASSESING YOUR RABBIT PROBLEM

Look for signs of rabbit activity: buck heaps, droppings and signs of scratching. Spotlighting is a good way to observe rabbits when they are most active.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Read and follow the product label directions for use, first aid and storage information. Wear rubber gloves when handling poison. Avoid direct contact with poison and wash hands after handling (outside, away from sewage/septic systems). Display completed notification sign in a prominent place (include program dates and contact information).

MINIMISING OFF TARGET POISONING

  1. Free feed (poison-free sterilised oats) is laid for one week prior to poison baiting to ensure only the target animal is accessing the bait.
  2. Monitor what animals are feeding on free feed and how much feed is being eaten (enter information on record sheet).
  3. To avoid uptake by native wildlife you can also use a cheap wildlife camera to monitor this, removing any poison bait in areas where native species are recorded and replacing it with free feed for the duration of your program.
  4. Use shallow baiting hutches to prevent larger herbivores from eating bait.
  5. Use of Pindone oat bait will prevent poisoning birds as the poison coated husk is discarded (with the exception of Swamp Hens).
  6. Do not apply more bait than required.
  7. If found, wearing gloves remove and dispose of deceased rabbits

CHOOSING THE BEST PLACE TO LAY BAITS

Look for an area in between where rabbits shelter and where they like to feed. Place baiting stations in a row at least one meter apart along the thoroughfare.

SETTING UP YOUR BAIT STATION

  1. Use a mattock to make a furrow
  2. Lay free feed/bait in a concentrated trail along furrow (do not pile too high)
  3. Place baiting hutch over furrow and fix securely with tent pegs
  4. Free feed with non-poison bait
  5. Monitor percentage taken, and what species of animal has taken bait. Do this 2-3 times weekly and record your information on a data sheet.
  6. Replace as required, switching to Pindone once free feed uptake reaches 100%
  7. Do not poison/free feed during rain, remove when rain is forecast (unsterilised free feed will germinate when wet and Pindone bait may leach poison into soil if wet)
  8. Discontinue program when rabbits no longer take bait (usually around 4 weeks)
  9. Remove any unused product.

Remember rabbits are a problem that concerns the whole community. If you can involve neighbours and work with them to control rabbits in your area, the more effective your efforts will be!

Warren Ripping

Warren destruction (commonly known as ripping) is used after the initial knockdown of feral rabbits has been achieved through baiting, to ensure any remaining rabbits don’t have a place to shelter or breed successfully. It involves the use of mechanical equipment including bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, and tractor-mounted rippers to destroy warren systems.

Note:  This is not appropriate in areas containing remnant native vegetation.

Care should be taken when undertaking ripping with heavy machinery as the rabbit warren may collapse when driving over it.

Fumigation

Fumigation is the method you use following bating and ripping, after the burrows have been destroyed and rabbit numbers are reduced, to ensure your program is keeping rabbit numbers down.

Aluminium phosphide is the most commonly used fumigant — it comes in a tablet form and releases poisonous phosphine gas when activated by moisture.

 Remember all fumigants are Schedule 7 poisons therefore an contractor with an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP) is required to be engaged for fumigation of warrens. 

Rabbit Proof Fencing

Installing rabbit proof fencing along property boundaries or around pockets of remnant indigenous ground flora/garden beds/specific trees you wish to protect will limit accessibility to vegetation, however this method will also exclude and potentially harm native wildlife that becomes caught in the fence. Consider native wildlife when deciding whether or not to install rabbit exclusion fencing.

To ensure their structural integrity, rabbit proof fences need to be monitored to check for breaches and repaired if necessary. Waratah 30mm blue wire mesh is around 3x cost of the alternatives but will stand the test of time.

Here is a standard Rabbit Proof Fencing Design & Specifications

Calisi Virus

You may like to participate in calici virus release. Individuals may purchase RHDV1 K5 for private use as it is not a restricted use chemical in Victoria. Landholders can contact the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) for further information.

You can ring them on: (02)46406337 or email virology.enquiries@dpi.nsw.gov.au to purchase RHDV1 K5.

Helpful links to additional resources