Landholders and PHCC staff mapped a total of 478 warrens across 13 properties, which was no easy feat in a heat wave!

Mapping rabbit warrens and controlling rabbit populations are essential for managing their impact on agriculture, infrastructure and native ecosystems. To tackle the significant rabbit problem around Lake Clifton and Herron, PHCC and landholders have recently undertaken warren mapping to prepare for our upcoming warren fumigation project.

Through our World for Woodlands and Carnaby Black Cockatoo Projects, PHCC is undertaking a 4-year rabbit blitz program, working with landholders to control rabbits in the Lake Clifton and Herron areas, where the effects of calicivirus is limited due to high rabbit immunity to the virus. 13 landholders have signed up for the program, all of which have Banksia or Tuart Woodland Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC) on their property.

Thank you to all landholders who completed warren mapping across their property. Daniel Reed from Aussie Feral Pests was engaged to undertake warren fumigation using the data submitted by landholders. Landholders were engaged closely to ensure they understood the control program and associated risks were mitigated.

If you want to reduce rabbit numbers on your property, follow these simple guidelines:

  1. Use RabbitScan (https://www.feralscan.org.au/rabbitscan/): This free app allows landholders and community groups to record and map rabbit activity, warrens, damage, and control efforts. It also tracks evidence of rabbit diseases like RHDV.
  2. Manual Mapping: Identify and mark warren entrances using GPS or flags. Recording entrance numbers helps estimate rabbit populations and plan control activities.
  3. Warren Destruction by Ripping: For large areas, use mechanical equipment like bulldozers or backhoes to destroy warrens. Ensure all rabbits are underground before commencing and employ spotters to guide machinery. NOTE: if you have bushland or Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) on your property, it is illegal to remove native plants, therefore warren destruction via ripping is likely unfeasible.
  4. Warren Destruction by Manual Methods: Where warrens occur in TECs or bushland sites, manual methods can destroy warrens without harming vegetation. Use a long-handled metal digging bar or spear to collapse the warren. For warrens that occur under native vegetation, try the ‘rocks in socks’ approach – use your fist to stuff chicken wire down each entrance and then fill the hole with rocks or rubble. Rabbits will attempt to dig in to the existing entrance, and will likely quickly give up when they hit rocks. If you think destroying the warren will destroy the overlaying vegetation, simply trimming underneath shrubs makes it less favourable for rabbits.
  5. Remove their Preferred Habitat: Remove old piles of wood, rubbish and tin laying around your property. Our recent adventures mapping warrens show that where piles of wood and rubbish occur, there’s almost certainly a rabbit warren underneath!
  6. Baiting, fumigation and biological control: PHCC does not support Pindone baiting in bushland environments, because of its risks to native species.  However, Pindone may be suitable for cleared or agricultural areas where monitoring shows that native species are unlikely to be impacted. Using fumigants like aluminium phosphide pellets can be more successful for rabbits and reduce off target impacts, but it is expensive and can present risks to off target species for 48 hours after fumigation and could kill native animals that find their way into rabbit warrens. Therefore, we strongly recommend avoiding fumigation where native animals such as quenda or reptiles are seen accessing warrens. Calicivirus can also reduce populations, but is less effective in areas where rabbits are immune to the virus.
  • Rabbit proof fencing: Not a standalone solution, but can protect valuable crops or revegetation areas. If you have an existing boundary fence, mesh buried into the ground around your fence can be an effective control method, although you’ll need to frequently identify and repair breeches in the fence.
  • Work with others: Rabbits don’t respect property boundaries. Team up with your neighbours for coordinated control, contact DPIRD for support, advice, and updates and reach out to the Peel-Harvey Biosecurity Groups who offer support and run control programs.

For a hare-larious take on rabbit control, watch Russell Coights video on how to get rid of rabbits:

If you are interested in releasing calicivirus on your property or wish to loan equipment to assist with rabbit control, register your interest with the Peel-Harvey Biosecurity Group at this link: Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group – Annual rabbit control program.

This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by PHCC, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.

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