European rabbits have a huge impact on the natural environment and agricultural activities. It is estimated that rabbits cost Australian Agriculture $216 million in production losses each year. PHCC is supporting landholders with rabbit control by providing rabbit control information and coordinating the release of the RHDV1-K5 rabbit virus.>>

Rabbits are one of the most widely distributed and abundant feral animals in Australia. Rabbits have a rapid rate of reproduction with a female rabbit becoming sexually mature at just 4 months of age and a pair of rabbits can become 184 rabbits in just 18 months in good conditions and if no appropriate control measures are undertaken.

There is no silver bullet for rabbit control, control efforts need to be coordinated and ongoing with the greatest success achieved when neighbouring property owners are involved. Methods for rabbit control include warren destruction, ground shooting, 1080 baiting, RHDV1-K5 rabbit virus release and trapping. Warren destruction can be quite effective as rabbits depend on warrens to shelter from the heat and to provide protection from predators.

In early Autumn PHCC coordinated the release of the RHDV1-K5 virus in the shires of Wandering, Boddington, Williams and Wandering. 35 landholders were involved in the release with each landholder being required to pre feed the rabbits with oats, conduct pre and post release surveys of rabbit numbers on site and commit to conducting follow up rabbit control to cull the rabbits remaining after the release. This is the 5th time PHCC has coordinated the release of the RHDV1-K5 virus in the Hotham-Williams Sub-catchment.

The Pestsmart website has some great resources on rabbits and their control including the comprehensive Glovebox Guide which is available on their website or you can pop into PHCC’s Boddington Office for your free copy https://pestsmart.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/CISS-Glovebox-Guide-Rabbit-web.pdf

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present