Rabbit Control - Bonnie Doon - May 11th 2025
Despite falling on Mothers Day, our rabbit control event saw an excellent turnout, highlighting the community's commitment to managing this significant pest issue.
Guest Speaker Highlights
Our featured speaker was Samantha Armstrong, Engagement Officer for Vertebrate Pests at Agriculture Victoria, Eastern Victoria. Sam's role involves creating vital connections between industry and private landholders to promote cross-tenure management programs for pest animals including rabbits, foxes, feral pigs and feral goats.
In Eastern Victoria, Sam works primarily on building partnerships among key stakeholders—landowners, agricultural industry representatives, and community groups—to encourage collective action against pest animals. She also collaborates with the Animal Health Department to collect samples for testing emerging animal diseases.
Key Messages on Rabbit Control
Sam shared valuable insights on effective rabbit management, highlighting Agriculture Victoria's recommended integrated approach:
Monitoring and coordination - Working with neighbours for better results across the landscape rather than individual properties
Population reduction - Using baiting during summer when food sources are scarce
Habitat destruction - Ripping warrens and removing above-ground shelter
Follow-up treatment - Re-ripping or fumigating any reopened warrens
Ongoing vigilance - Continuing to monitor and respond when needed
Sam emphasised that rabbits cost Australian agriculture approximately $197 million annually, with just seven rabbits consuming the equivalent feed of one sheep. Their destructive impact includes soil erosion, damage to native vegetation, and competition with native wildlife for food and habitat.
Alarming Reproduction Rates
One of the most concerning aspects Sam highlighted was the rabbits' extraordinary breeding capacity. A single pair of rabbits can multiply to more than 180 individuals in just 18 months under favourable conditions. This remarkable reproductive rate explains why rabbit populations can recover so quickly after control efforts or poor seasonal conditions. The warren system is key to this reproductive success, providing protection from predators and weather extremes, which is essential for the survival of young rabbits in Australia's harsh climate.
Importance of Timing and Understanding Rabbit Behaviour
Sam particularly emphasised how crucial it is to understand rabbit biology and behaviour when planning control efforts. Timing management actions to align with the rabbit lifecycle can dramatically improve control outcomes. Late summer and early autumn are typically the most effective periods for control measures, as breeding has generally paused and environmental conditions are harsher, adding natural stress to rabbit populations.
Understanding that rabbits are most active from late afternoon to early morning, that they're naturally wary of new things in their environment, and that they establish social hierarchies are all key insights that inform effective control strategies. Sam stressed that using these biological vulnerabilities to our advantage is essential for successful rabbit management.
The event reinforced that effective rabbit control requires an integrated approach using multiple control measures, with warren destruction being the key to achieving long-term results.
Special Thanks
A heartfelt thank you to our gracious hosts, Christina and Ian Halliwell, who generously welcomed us to their Bonnie Doon property for this informative event. Their hospitality and willingness to share their space made this valuable community gathering possible.
