Summer is the perfect time to start developing an integrated rabbit management program for your property.
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As temperatures heat up and conditions dry, rabbits find it harder to resist juicy carrot baits. This allows greater success with 1080, Pindone and new rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) baiting programs.
Generally late summer and early autumn are the optimum times to conduct rabbit baiting programs in this area.
However, with any pest animal control program it is best to use multiple control methods in primary or secondary categories.
Primary control is the method that will bring about maximum reduction of pest populations and should form the backbone of your management program. Primary control for rabbits is 1080 or Pindone baiting, which if done correctly can reduce rabbit populations by 90-95%.
Secondary control methods are then implemented to further reduce populations and provide a longer-term reduction in rabbit numbers.The following is an outline of secondary control methods for rabbits.
- Harbour destruction – destroying or removing rabbit habitats, rabbit numbers will be further reduced and reinfestation will be less likely if you make your property a less suitable habitat, where possible. Winter to spring is an excellent time for deep ripping of warren systems, burning woodpiles, spraying blackberries and generally tidying up around your home and machinery sheds.
- Shooting – can be a very effective secondary control method if conducted by a skilled shooter with humane consideration. The .22 rimfire is the most common and effective calibre for shooting rabbits as it is very accurate, cheap and powerful enough to humanely kill rabbits at distances of 75-100 metres. Shooting should only be conducted by licensed operators in locations where a safe backdrop is assured.
- Fumigation – can be conducted with the use of Phosphine tablets, which are available from rural suppliers and Local Land Services offices under various trade names. It can only be carried on warren systems where a good seal can be obtained by blocking of all burrow entrances in the system. An effective secondary control method though great care should be taken.
