![]() Rabbits are estimated to cause over $200 million dollars in damage to Australian agriculture every year, and they are recognised as a potential threat to at least 304 native threatened species. In the 1950's the release of the myxoma virus (myxomatosis) removed over 95% of the rabbit population. Over the years rabbits have become immune to the myxoma virus.Although there are still areas where it exists. However by the early 1990's the rabbit population had built back up again. In 1995 the RHDV virus (calicivirus) was introduced. This reduced the population considerably however rabbits are becoming immune to that virus also. This year (2017) another virus RHDV1 K5 is being introduced to the rabbit population. This virus is expected to be less effective than the forementioned viruses but if used with conventional control, burrow ripping and burrow fumigation is expected to maintain rabbit levels at a relatively low level.
The following videos released by PestSmart lead you through the various methods of rabbit control. NOTE: These files are quite large so check your system has the capacity to download them before commencing to download. An Introduction to the rabbit control - gives some background on rabbit control to date. An Introduction to the rabbit problem of Australia - 4.68 Mb Three videos showing conventional rabbit control methods, poisoning using 1080 bait, warren fumigation and warren ripping 1. Poison baiting for rabbit control - 8.22 Mb 2. Rabbit warren fumigation - 15 Mb 3. Rabbit warren ripping and harbour destruction -10.9Mb The following five videos describe the requirements when using the currently released RHDV1 K5 virus 1. How to spotlight count rabbits on your site - 4.8Mb 2. How to collect samples from a dead rabbit for disease testing - 8.1Mb 3. How to collect samples from a shot rabbit for disease testing - 10.7Mb 4. How to submit rabbit disease data into RabbitScan - 4.2 5. How to lay RHDV1 K5 baits on your site - 5.6Mb RabbitScan is an app which can be downloaded(free from PestSmart website) where records and submissions of data can be made. The following video explains using Rabbitscan. How to use Rabbitscan to improve your rabbit control outcomes - 9.8Mb For further information visit www.pestsmart.org.au/pest-animal-species/european-rabbit/ For more information about the release of RHDV1 K5 refer www.healthierlandscapes.org.au |