Back in action for 2026!

Welcome to the 5th edition of the Feral Rabbit Management Newsletter!

When you're planning your summer rabbit control program, start by asking yourself: What am I trying to protect?

Is it your home garden or crops? Are you trying to stop soil erosion, avoid injuries to people or livestock, or help a threatened species recover? Knowing your 'why' helps you design a program that truly protects what matters most.

It's easy for rabbit control to become all about the numbers – how many rabbits you saw, or how many were killed. But when the focus is on counting rabbits, the program can become short-term focused and fails to incorporate all the tools available in best practice rabbit management.   

This summer, shift your attention from simply reducing rabbits to protecting the values at risk and monitoring the results. Your program will then become more strategic, more sustainable, and ultimately more effective.

In this edition, you will find helpful tips to support planning and delivering a successful summer rabbit control program.

Our thoughts are with all the communities impacted by the recent bush fires as we know it will be a long road to recovery. As part of rebuilding, I'd like to offer support to those regions that will be planning and implementing community pest management programs. Please contact me if you need support.

- Heidi Kleinert, National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator 

Before kicking off your rabbit baiting program, it's important to identify and record where rabbit activity is happening on your property or in your local area. 

Free feeding is the process of laying non-toxic bait on at least three occasions in the control area. This process trains rabbits to eat the foreign food in the landscape.

If rabbits have been nibbling their way through your garden, you're definitely not alone – these unwelcome guests can cause surprising damage in a very short time. Young shoots, vegie seedlings, and native species are all favourites, often leaving gardeners frustrated and plants struggling to recover. 

The Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits is a valuable resource for those starting to manage feral rabbits.

Produced by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, it provides current and general information on best practice rabbit management for land managers, pest animal officers and others involved in the management of rabbits.

Look for edition three out soon.

Did you know that if you're a primary producer, you can claim deductions for costs you incur to maintain land – including pest animal and weed management!

The ATO has created a quick guide factsheet to explain what you can claim. Check it out and make sure you share this tip with your neighbours!

Read factsheet here. 

Rabbit management after fire and flood can be enhanced as rabbit numbers have been reduced naturally.

However, rabbit numbers can quickly recover, putting pressure on feed availability for both stock and native animals. Without early action, the benefits of reduced numbers can be lost in just a short period.

Taking action early makes a big difference. With less vegetation and fewer fences, warrens are easier to spot and access. It's also a good time to team up with neighbours, making control efforts more effective and long‑lasting.

Throughout December and January, CSIRO received multiple rabbit disease samples for testing from ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and WA. As shown on the map, calicivirus is being detected across most of Australia, with the exception of the NT. Find out more here and see previous updates here.

Location of submitted cases for calicivirus and myxoma virus testing in December 2025 and January 2026: 45% of samples tested positive for RHDV2 while 89% of samples submitted for myxoma virus testing tested positive for myxoma virus.

Local councils play a critical role in coordinated rabbit control. Across Australia, councils are responding to rising rabbit numbers and growing community concern by strengthening their knowledge of best-practice management and improving how they assess program effectiveness to protect natural areas, public assets and private land.

From community engagement and strategic planning through to coordinated on-ground action and long-term monitoring, councils across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia are implementing practical, phased approaches to reduce rabbit impacts and build community-wide responsibility.

Attending the City of Casey Stakeholder forum.

Time: WA 11:00 am, NT 12:30 pm, QLD 1:00 pm, SA 1:30 pm, TAS, ACT, NSW & VIC 2:00 pm

Register now for a free webinar that brings together leading researchers and rabbit practitioners from across Australia.

Guest speakers will discuss effective, efficient and humane rabbit control, to engage communities and minimise off-target risk.

This month, I spoke with journalists across ABC radio to discuss the surge in rabbit populations, the opportunity to change policy and direct long-term funding into pest management in Australia including the importance of calici virus as a rabbit management biocontrol tool.

My interview with Belinda Smith from ABC Radio National - The Science Show on Rabbits in Australia, will air this Saturday, 21 February. The program will provide insights into the latest scientific research and discuss the devasting impacts of rabbits that occur every day in Australia.

The Science Show airs Saturday 12pm, Monday 4am and 1.30pm and Tuesday 9.30pm.

Join me for a FREE online webinar exploring integrated rabbit management.

We will discuss the 2026 K5 release program and what land managers need to know to deliver an effective rabbit management program.

Guest Speakers:

- Clinton Downing, NRE Tas
- David White, NRE Tas
- Ina Smith, CSIRO
- Aaron Stephens, Bass Coast Landcare
- Jen Milne, Landcare Tasmania

Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026

Time: 6:30 - 7:45 pm  

Online: MS Teams

For decades, volunteers have worked to restore the Sorrento and Marmion foreshore—planting nearly 38,000 native seedlings, removing invasive weeds, and tackling persistent rabbit impacts. In 2025, coordinated control efforts finally delivered a breakthrough, with natural regeneration now visibly returning to the dunes.

Words and images by Michael Norman

If you're dealing with rabbits on your property in the Redesdale, Heathcote or Raywood townships and you're unsure how to manage them, or feel like you're fighting a losing battle, this session is for you.

Learn from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network how to effectively reduce and control rabbit populations on your land.

City of Greater Bendigo invite you to come along to a FREE community information session. The workshop is suitable for both farming and lifestyle properties.

Various dates: 24, 25, 26 February 2026

Time: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Various locations: Redesdale, Heathcote,  Raywood

Register: here before 20 February 2026.

If you've tried baiting, ripping or fencing before and the rabbits keep coming back, this workshop is for you.

This hands-on, on-site workshop cuts through the noise and shows what actually makes a difference when it comes to long-term rabbit control. You'll see proven methods demonstrated and learn why timing, technique and coordination are critical to success. Suitable for landholders, farmers and anyone dealing with persistent rabbit problems.

Date: Saturday 28 February 2026

Time: 10:00 AM     Location: To be announced

Register: here

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) has announced the next Bootcamp will be held in Lakes Entrance.

The bootcamp is a 'Leadership in Rabbit Management' course and is facilitated by the VRAN Mentors, who are recognised experts in rabbit management and community-led action. 

The course is delivered with a mix of classroom and field sessions and you get to network with a group of people who are on a similar journey to you and facing similar scenarios and issues.

Date: 22-24 April 2026

Applications close: Monday 16 March 2026

Apply: here

Struggling with rabbits and not sure where to start?

Join the Nillumbik Shire Council environment team for a morning of demonstration and discussion of rabbit control options for your property and community. Find out how residents can form rabbit action groups. Council grants may also be available.

Date: Saturday 21 March 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Learning Co-operative, 10 Laceys Road, Cottles Bridge, 3099, View map

Register: here

Join Murray Local Land Services for a feral rabbit management workshop in Mulwala.

Learn control strategies, proofing tips, and trapping techniques for properties of all sizes.

At this workshop, you'll learn:

- the rabbit lifecycle and why populations thrive

- effective control strategies for different property sizes

- backyard proofing tips

- baiting techniques for larger holdings.

Date: 24 February 2026

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: 7 Waratah Road, Mulwala 2647

Register: here

Local Land Services regularly run workshops, events and training across NSW to support land management work.  Pest management training and community meetings are held frequently. To find out what's happening in your area, click here. 

NSW Good Neighbours Program

Additional projects have also been added to the Good Neighbours Program, a $10 million NSW Government initiative to tackle pest and weed infestations at the boundary between private and public lands, improving pest and weed control through collaboration.

To view all the projects and get further information visit the Good Neighbours Program webpage.  

While recent media has reported rising rabbit numbers in southern states, the Darling Downs–Moreton Rabbit Board (DDMRB) region in southern Queensland has not recorded a comparable increase. Long-standing coordinated management, including the 555 km rabbit barrier fence and proactive compliance programs, continues to play a critical role in maintaining stability.

DDMRB will continue monitoring conditions closely and collaborating with partners to ensure Queensland remains well‑positioned to prevent the expansion of feral rabbit populations. Visit www.ddmrb.org.au for updates.

Biosecurity Tasmania will conduct a planned calicivirus release in 2026, subject to suitable environmental conditions.   

The aim of the release is to help reduce the number of rabbits in the landscape.  

If you're a land manager and would like to participate, register your interest here.

Public consultation is now open on Victoria's Biosecurity Strategy Implementation Plan.

The Plan outlines the key actions and timelines that will support delivery of the Strategy's goals and help strengthen Victoria's biosecurity system.

Your feedback will help shape how Victoria manages pests, weeds and diseases into the future.

Share your views via the Victorian Biosecurity Strategy Implementation Plan Consultation on Engage Victoria webpage.  Open now until 31 March 2026.

Are you working on a rabbit program and want to share your story with others. Or maybe you have some photos that show the impact of rabbits on our environment?

Contact rabbits@invasives.com.au as we would like to hear from you!

I've noticed a growing number of women working in pest management.

With International Women's Day being celebrated on the 8th March, I thought it would be a great opportunity to encourage everyone to recognise a woman in your workplace or networks working in rabbit management.

The benefit of showcasing these stories is that we inspire new graduates and those considering new careers in natural resource management, agriculture and science. Feel free to comment on CISS's social media posts calling out inspiring women in our field.

Belle and Bea's Beautiful New Home is a children's book by Kristin Martin and Bianca Richardson published in association with Rabbit-Free Australia. It follows two bilbies, Belle and Bea, as they discover how native, arid-land homes are threatened by invasive European rabbits and how they can restore their environment.  

Belle and Bea's Beautiful New Home is the third title in the Easter Bilby's Friends series, helping children understand how introduced feral rabbits impact native plants and animals, and sharing simple ways they can make a positive difference.

To order this delightful book, visit Rabbit-Free Australia or Wakefield Press.

If you're part of a community group seeking funding support, here are a few grant programs currently open or soon to be opened.

Australian Wildlife Society Conservation Group Grants

The Australian Wildlife Society (AWS) offers Conservation Group Grants to support wildlife conservation groups dedicated to preserving Australia's native fauna and their habitats. These grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, with the number of grants awarded each year depending on available funding.

To apply, complete the grant application form available on the AWS website. For more information on this grant scheme, click here.

Wettenhall Environment Trust's Small Environmental Grant Scheme

The Wettenhall Environment Trust's Small Environmental Grant Scheme continues to call for projects that positively impact the environment, with grants between $2.000 and $15,000 available.

Grants are issued four times a year in February, May, August and November. Applications open 8 December 2025 for funding in February 2026.

For more information on this grant scheme, click here.

ABARES Outlook Conference 2026

Dates: 3-4 March 2026

Venue: Canberra, ACT

For more information on the symposium, click here.

8th World Lagomorph Conference

Dates: 22-26 June

Venue: Seville, Spain

For more information on the conference, click here.

FAOPMA Pest Summit 2026

Dates: 15-17 July 2026

Venue: Auckland, New Zealand

For more information on the symposium, click here.

5th International Congress on Biological Invasions

Dates: TBC - Sep or Oct 2026

Venue: Perth, WA

For more information on the symposium, click here.

To subscribe to the quarterly newsletter, click here. 

Want to find out more about feral rabbit control? Visit PestSmart or contact rabbits@invasives.com.au

Share our newsletter and stories and follow us on social media. Please add your voice by commenting on our posts.

This project is managed by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and proudly supported by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rabbit Free Australia and Darling Downs - Moreton Rabbit Board.

The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions acknowledges the continuing connection of First Nations Peoples to culture, country and community in Australia and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. 

Copyright © 2026 Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email as you opted in via one of our organisational websites or sign up forms to receive our e-newsletters or media releases. If this was done in error, simply click unsubscribe below.

Our office address is:

Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

Innovation Building 22, University Drive South

BRUCE, ACT 2617

Australia