Rabbit-Free Australia has been advocating nationally for strategic rabbit control, especially warren ripping, to be a standard component of drought relief and regional resilience programs. It is pleasing to see that rabbit control is available to landholders as part of a $760,000 investment through the SA government’s Drought Response program. See here for more information.
Control options available include:
- Free warren ripping – completed by a contractor or by the landholder (with reimbursement available for labour/time).
- Free 1080 oat bait, to be laid in accordance with label directions, either before and/or after warren ripping.
- Free calicivirus (RHDV1 K5) release in areas where rabbit populations remain susceptible.
The program is managed by PIRSA, in conjunction with regional Landscape Boards. The program allows producers to keep their feed for stock, not rabbits, and ensures the best pasture response, unhindered by rabbits, once drought breaks. Destroying warrens curtails rabbit breeding for years to come, building resilience into landscapes.
