Reducing the harm caused by rabbits, including to housing, and protecting ‘at-risk’ vegetation are goals of the ‘Rabbit-Free Phillip Island’ initiative, involving Bass Coast Landcare, the Surf Beach Sunderland Bay Coastcare Group and Phillip Island Landcare amongst others. Their collective activities include:
• Mapping warrens over more than 760 hectares and embarking on a 3-year eradication program,
• Rabbit-proofing homes, and
• Excluding rabbits from high priority environments, along with weed control, erosion control and revegetation.
Their endeavour brings together a diverse community and incorporates innovative approaches in response to local social and environmental factors.
For more information see a recent article by Benjamin Preiss in The Age, ‘Digital maps to drive out rascally rabbits‘, and a description of the work by Phillip Island Nature Parks.
Native plant (Stylidium) regeneration following rabbit control. (Image G Seddon)