An estimate of rabbit numbers can be made quickly and easily, and is the most practical indicator of a potential rabbit problem. The simplest methods are spotlighting and warren counts.
When counting rabbits, it is important to use the same method every time.
If possible, also conduct counts at the same time of night and in similar weather conditions. This ensures that other factors remain constant—the only variable that will change is the number of rabbits.
Ideally, you should monitor for rabbits before starting any control work. Monitoring also needs to continue well after control work has ceased.
For best results, monitoring should involve measuring changes over time and throughout seasons. If done methodically, it can help detect changes in rabbit numbers before they become obvious to the casual observer.
Spotlight and headlight counts:
Using this method, rabbits are counted at night from a ute moving at a slow, constant speed (about 10–20 km/h) over a fixed route with the aid of a hand-held spotlight. This ideally requires at least two people—one to drive and another, holding a spotlight and counting the rabbits, to stand on the back of the ute.
All rabbits seen within approximately 100 m on both sides and in front of the vehicle are counted and recorded.
Footprint counts:
This method involves siting 15–20 sand plots, which are 1 m in diameter, in and around warrens, harbour areas and feeding areas. The sand plots need to be raked smooth to ensure there is a soft surface on which rabbit footprints will be visible.
It is best to set the plots is in the late afternoon and then check them in the morning. Repeating this procedure for three consecutive days should result in an accurate count. This method provides a good indication of rabbit numbers prior to, and following, control methods.
Warren (active entrance) counts:
This method is useful only where there are plenty of warrens and most of the rabbit population live in them. However, where most of the rabbits are living above ground or in log piles, counting warren entrances will not provide an accurate estimate of rabbit numbers.
(Rabbits using above-ground harbour will move from one area of their above ground harbour to another and never appear to go underground, whereas their burrow-living rabbits will dive for a burrow entrance as soon as possible).
If the property is small, inspect and count all warrens; if the property is large, only 10–20 warrens need to be inspected. For each warren, count the number of active (used) and inactive (not used) entrances and record the information.
To estimate actual numbers of adult rabbits, multiply by 1.6 the number of active warren entrances.
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