In the past we have often just killed rabbits without ‘controlling’ them. Long- term management should aim to reduce rabbit populations to a level at which their damage is reduced to an acceptable level. In many areas of Australia, warren destruction and surface harbour removal are the keys to long-term rabbit control.
After rabbit harbour is destroyed, rabbits can be maintained at a low level for little cost over extended periods (5-10 years). Effective and efficient management of rabbit damage requires coordination, planning and implementation of management programs at the regional level.
That is, where practical, any control program should involve your neighbours. The integrated use of several rabbit control methods is also desirable – e.g. ripping programs are usually most effective after rabbit populations have been reduced by baiting or disease resulting in lower warren reopening rates.
- Define the problem: nature and location of damage and location and density of rabbits. Will rabbit control improve land management? What damage is the result of other factors?
- Map the control area: rabbit harbour, property boundaries, accessible and environmentally sensitive areas, etc.
- Develop a plan: keep it simple and have goals that can be measured, and that are obtainable.
- Aim to control rabbit populations for the long-term; not just kill some individual rabbits in the short-term.
- Aim to reduce damage to an acceptable level. This may not necessarily require removing all rabbits.
- Use combinations of control methods. In most situations, no single method will provide adequate control of rabbits in the long term.
- Where possible, time your control programs to maximise any impact of RHD and myxomatosis by undertaking follow-up control after outbreaks of these diseases.
- Monitor the effectiveness of your control methods by measuring rabbit abundance using simple methods such as spotlight counts over the same pre-defined areas. Monitor the rabbit populations for 2–3 consecutive days before and immediately after rabbit control and annually from then on. Success can also be measured by monitoring improvement in the resource, vegetation biomass, reduced erosion etc.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the management plan and be prepared to change your approach when necessary.
- Have a formal program of ongoing ‘maintenance’ control involving re- ripping, fumigation, baiting and spraying weed harbour re-growth to protect your initial investment and ensure long-term reduction in rabbit damage.
- The management of rabbits, and your on-farm pest management generally, should not be viewed in isolation as they are only one aspect of overall natural resource management. For example, controlling rabbits with 1080 may lead to decreased fox numbers through secondary poisoning of foxes by 1080-poisoned rabbits, and through a reduced food supply for foxes.
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