Welcome to the 3rd edition of the Feral Rabbit Newsletter!

Spring has sprung, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to start planning your rabbit control efforts. In this edition, we're sharing practical, credible, and timely advice to help you - and your community - get rabbit ready.

Now's the time to begin pre-control monitoring. Understanding the scale and impact of your local rabbit problem is key. Use the free RabbitScan app to record sightings, warrens, and damage. Look for signs like soil scratchings, dung piles, grazing on vegetation and soil disturbance. All of this information will also help you target your efforts more effectively.

Next step, set your goals (e.g population reduction and to collapse every warren). Then choose what management tools you or a contractor will use.

With spring rain forecast for parts of south-east Australia, conditions are looking ideal for rabbit breeding - so early planning and action is essential.

Finally, a big thank you to key influencers in the pest animal space Gill Basnett (National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator), Annelise Wiebkin (National Feral Deer Management Coordinator) and Tony Buckmaster (Principal RD&E Manager), who have recently moved on from their roles. Your contributions have made a lasting impact - thank you for your dedication and expertise.

- Heidi Kleinert, National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator

Looking for a practical, easy-to-use resource to support your rabbit control efforts? The PestSmart Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits is a compact, field-friendly tool designed to help land managers identify, monitor, and manage rabbit populations effectively.

Packed with best-practice advice, the guide covers everything from assessing rabbit activity to choosing the right control methods for your situation. Whether you're working on your own property or as part of a coordinated community program, this guide is a must-have for your toolkit.

Find more information here. 

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

In this video, Peter Fleming from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, talks about the strategic predator management basics. Although Peter has centred his talk about predation of foxes, these principles and lessons can easily be transferred to planning and improving your rabbit program.

Peter Fleming's top tips:

• Work with your neighbour.

• Don't rely on one control method.

• Plan a program, write it down and use local maps to show where the problem is and what you've achieved.

• Do something useful, which has impact.

Watch the full video here.

In adaptive management, you first plan (define the problem and know your target; assess and understand the problem; develop a plan and set clear objectives), then manage (choose control techniques and strategies; monitor the outcomes) and improve (evaluate and modify as required). 

Baits are a useful feral rabbit control tool when used appropriately in an integrated program. Did you know that 1080 or Sodium fluoroacetate is a naturally occurring toxin found in more than 30 species of native Australian plants?

1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) is a manufactured toxin using the fluoroacetate compound with sodium attached to make a soluble salt able to be used in baits. Here's what you need to know:

• Baiting with 1080 should only be used in a strategic manner as part of a coordinated program designed to achieve sustained effective control. 

• The supply and distribution of 1080 products is strictly regulated, with clear guidelines established to ensure safe use in all states and territories. It is only available to specialised suppliers and authorised users who are trained to handle it safely - see more here. 

• Although poisoning programs can be carried out year-round, baiting is most effective when alternative food for rabbits is scarce i.e. at the end of summer or early autumn.

• Baiting may be less effective when feed supply is abundant or during the breeding season when juvenile rabbit movements may be limited, and they are less likely to find the bait.   

• 1080 is rapidly broken down by bacteria and fungi in water and soil, producing harmless compounds that do not remain in the environment. 

• The use of 1080 for pest animal management is determined by state and territory land management authorities, and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Check your state government website for more information - you can find them here. 

The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions has published a position statement on the use of 1080. Find out more here. 

Want to know what viruses are circulating in your area? The RabbitScan website shares this community data on the Rabbit Disease page and CSIRO present data monthly based on submissions received.

CSIRO reported that in August – September they received submissions from Qld, NSW, ACT, NSW and Tas.

RHDV2 remains the dominant circulating strain in positive cases and seems to be active in Qld and NSW. 

Location of submitted cases for calicivirus testing between August and September 2025. 73% of samples tested positive for RHDV2.

I've been working with the National Feral Rabbit Management program steering committee to co-design a work plan that provides a roadmap to help everyone reduce the negative impacts of rabbits in Australia.

The five objectives are:

1. Raise awareness: Increase community awareness of the damage caused by feral rabbits on the environment, agriculture, cultural heritage and community infrastructure.

2. Increase capacity: Increase capability and adoption of best practice rabbit management by land managers to reduce the damage to the environment, agriculture, cultural heritage and community infrastructure.

3. Build partnerships: Connect people to expertise and with other stakeholders working on the rabbit issue. Support land managers to collaborate, build networks and deliver coordinated rabbit management programs.

4. Improve national standards: Review and improve the national standards for the effective and humane management of rabbits and their application.

5. Protect important assets: Facilitate the prioritisation and resourcing of rabbit management projects to protect important assets.

The implementation of the workplan relies on cooperation and collaboration between a large range of stakeholders to support land managers, including First Nations Peoples, community, not-for-profits, government and industry that have an interest in feral rabbit management. The work plan is a living document that will be reviewed annually to consider changes in opportunities or challenges. Read more here. 

Photos taken at the National NRM Knowledge Conference. 

As the National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator, each week I meet with people working hard to reduce the negative impact of rabbits. Below is a snapshot of some of the engagement activities I was involved in over the past few months. 

NSW: There are 11 Local Land Service Regions in NSW. I've been connecting with the regions to learn more about the rabbit issues and the landholder programs that they plan and deliver for their communities. Read more here. 

Vic: The Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network presented the Rub on Rabbits webinar. I joined experts from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network -VRAN and CSIRO to share what's involved in planning and delivering a well-informed rabbit control program.

Click here to access all the presentations and my tips on where to go to find digital rabbit resources to help you build your knowledge on best practice rabbit management.

National: Joining the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions' colleagues Sean Freney and Darren Marshall, I was fortunate to attend the 9th National NRM Knowledge Conference held in Cairns in September. Craig Magnussen and I (CEO Darling Downs – Moreton Rabbit Board and Chair of Rabbit Free Australia) co-authored a paper which was presented during the Biosecurity Panel discussion. Read more about my experience here. 

Get ready for two days of learning, collaboration and valuable information and practical exercises on the management of feral rabbits on private or public land.

Join the Feral Rabbit Group Emerald and the award-winning team from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) to learn about community-led action and effective and sustainable rabbit management. 

📍 Event Location: Hills Hub

📆 Date: 4 October 2025

🎟️ RSVP here. 

Head along to an informative and practical day exploring effective invasive species management on Phillip Island. Learn expert tips on control methods, timing, techniques, and how to work in partnership with your neighbours and on your own property to reduce the impacts of weeds and pests.

📆When: Saturday 4 October 2025

⏰Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍Where: Berninneit Cowes & Cowes Recreation Reserve (91-97 Thompson Ave, Cowes VIC 3922)

🎟️Register here. 

Agriculture Victoria's Established Invasive Animals (EIA) team recently hosted a 3-day vertebrate pest management course held in the Mallee region of north-west Victoria from 12-14 August 2025.

Twenty-seven public land managers from both the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Forest Fire Management and Parks Victoria attended the course to increase their knowledge of best practice management of feral pigs, feral goats, foxes and rabbits.

Participants covered theory but also got some hands-on experience using a range of control tools as well as witnessing rabbit control demonstrations including baiting, ripping and implosion of warrens and fumigation that when implemented in a strategic approach can achieve long term control.

If you're a public land manager working in pest management and want to know more about the course, contact Nigel Roberts, Leading Biosecurity Officer – Established Invasive Animals, on 136 186. 

The Darling Downs – Moreton Rabbit Board (DDRMB) is a statutory authority established under the Qld Biosecurity Act 2014 responsible for the maintenance of the 555km of rabbit barrier fence running from Mt Gipps to Goombi.

DDMRB has been in operation for over 130 years, working alongside Queensland farmers and other land managers to keep rabbits out of our prime agricultural lands and natural areas. I recently spoke with CEO Craig Magnussen about their organisation and how their recent exhibit went at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).

What made you consider using Ekka or a Royal Show as a platform to engage people about feral rabbits?

We exhibited at Ekka for the first time in 2024. We considered it successful, as we able to engage with over 3,000 people in nine days. When the decision was made to again exhibit at Ekka 2025, it was with some uncertainty. We didn't know if our engagement levels would be matched, as we wondered if our 2024 showing had resulted in saturation of our messaging with the Ekka audience. But we also thought, what if it were the opposite and we could reach more people?

How many people did you engage with this year at Ekka?

We had 15,000 people through our stand over the nine days.

Who was your main target audience?

The people we spoke to were a mix of city and country folk with a genuine interest in the work we do. These conversations were invaluable as they often led to intel on locations of rabbit infestations, which our team members could later follow up. 

Did you have any special guests visit the exhibit?

We had a visit from the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Primary Industries. The Prime Minister spoke with our team about the rabbit issues he's seen firsthand in Canberra.

What were the common statements from people attending the exhibit?

"I had no idea rabbits were a problem in Queensland" was a pretty common statement.

Shows are very labour intensive, would you go back?

Overwhelmingly, people were receptive to our messaging and we also received many positive remarks such as, "keep up the good work". One person remarked that DDMRB had the most informative stand in the Agriculture Education Hall.

Although it was a considerable undertaking to create an engaging exhibit and staff it for 9 days. However, we believe it is a unique and invaluable opportunity to build on the engagement with a mixed audience.

To see their impressive stand at Ekka, visit here.

Over thirty locals, land managers, and pest control experts gathered in Kerang, Northern Victoria on 18 September for a Pest Animal Forum.

The event hosted by Amy Russell and Peter O'Toole from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) featured a fantastic lineup of guest speakers tackling the region's most pressing pest animal challenges:

Fraser Harrison, from Agriculture Victoria, talked about managing foxes, pigs, and rabbits, and shared tips for effective and integrated management strategies.

I introduced digital tools for rabbit management and the national efforts to tackle rabbit problems.

Kurt Murphy, from the Game Management Authority, reminded everyone about the importance of gun safety in pest animal control operations.

Peter Rose, from the North Central CMA, explained how carp are being managed to help restore Ramsar wetlands and waterway health.

Peter Jacobs, from the Victorian Deer Control Community Network, spoke about the growing impact of deer across Victoria and what communities can do.

Glenn Falla, from Field & Game Australia, presented conservation projects that support both pest control and habitat protection.

The forum was a great chance for locals and experts to come together, share knowledge, and explore practical ways to improve pest animal management and protect Kerang regional landscapes.

A key outcome of the day was stronger connections between agencies and community groups, paving the way for more coordinated and effective pest control efforts across the region.

Baiting on your land is one tool in the toolbox to effectively manage pest animals. NSW Local Land Services works with landholders to provide training programs, and supply baits for pest animal management activities on-farm.

If you're a landholder residing in NSW, check out the Bait collection - Local Land Services to find locations or get in touch with the biosecurity officer from your local area for alternate arrangements.

South Australian farmers battling feral rabbits now have access to targeted support, thanks to a $760,000 investment under the State Government's Drought Support Package.

This funding helps reduce grazing pressure and protect productivity across drought-affected regions.

Support is available through local Landscape Boards, with programs already active in areas like the Eyre Peninsula, Hills and Fleurieu, and Murraylands.

Eligible landholders can access free warren ripping, 1080 baiting, and calicivirus release, all aligned with best-practice rabbit control methods.

To be eligible you must:

• be a primary producer

• hold an ABN for a primary production enterprise

• have a South Australian property impacted by feral rabbits. 

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) is leading this project in partnership with regional Landscape Boards, the National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator and Rabbit Free Australia.

For more information, contact Byron Manning on 0411 655 883. 

A ripping program is currently underway in the Limestone Coast region and has received strong interest. Due to high demand, the program may soon reach full capacity.

Government staff are still accepting applications for a waiting list, in case any current applicants withdraw.

If you're interested, we encourage you to submit your application ASAP.

PIRSA is leading this project in partnership with regional Landscape Boards, the National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator and Rabbit Free Australia.

For more information, contact Byron Manning on 0411 655 883. 

It is hard to measure how big the rabbit problem is in Australia without data. Help us build a picture of the rabbit problem in Australia by using the free RabbitSCAN app or website to record rabbit sightings. You can also help us tell a national story of what is being achieved by adding the details of your rabbit control to the map.

Start entering what you see on your next walk on RabbitSCAN. Download the app here. 

The Feral Fighters program is a community-based initiative helping neighbouring landholders work together to better manage pest animals through strategic, coordinated group baiting control programs.

These group programs see neighbouring landholders and the wider community simultaneously bait a larger area, which helps remove more pests and reduces the rate of re-invasion.

What support will I receive?

Feral Fighters receive local support and resources, depending on what pest your local group is targeting. This can include:

• free pesticide training, in-person where available or online at any time that suits

• access to baits to help control pest animals such as feral pigs, wild dogs, foxes and rabbits

• local bait collection locations for ease of bait pick up

• up-to-date information, advice and tailored support from your Local Land Services team.

Shauna Chadlowe, CEO of the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, recently spoke at the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Symposium.

In her presentation, Shauna discusses what we need in pest management to help species recovery. She shares a lesson on what not to do from an example in British Columbia.

View Shauna's presentation here. 

The Koonamore Property, located in South Australia, home to the T.G.B. Osborn Vegetation Reserve, is one of the most significant ecological research sites in Australia - and indeed, the world.

This year marks nearly 100 years of groundbreaking research at the Koonamore Vegetation Reserve in South Australia. Established in 1925 to study the recovery of 400 ha of land badly degraded by overgrazing of stock and rabbits, Koonamore has become a living laboratory for understanding how arid ecosystems regenerate over time.

Its extensive records—quadrats, photopoints, and transects—have documented dramatic ecological changes, including the return of native shrubs and trees, the soil health has improved, and researchers have gained invaluable insights into climate resilience, plant genetics, and the long-term impact of invasive species.

The site continues to attract scientists, students, and volunteers, and its centenary in 2025 marks a celebration of its enduring legacy and a renewed commitment to preserving Australia's arid ecosystems

It's a powerful reminder of what's possible when we commit to removing rabbits to restore and protect Australia's unique landscapes.

Join the 100 year celebrations The Koonamore Project | Yunta SA | Facebook

Listen to Associate Professor José M. (Jope) Facelli, University of Adelaide to learn more about the project. The Koonamore Project: celebrating 100 years

Watch Repeat Photography of a degraded Australian rangeland by Dean Graetz to see firsthand the landscape recovery.

Australia's top experts in gene-drive technology from CSIRO are exploring how genetic tools could help control rabbit populations. Their research focuses on safely and precisely changing rabbit genes or using rabbit-specific viruses (such as Calici) to reduce numbers without harming other animals or the environment.

If you have two minutes, read this article: Controlling Pesky Rabbits with Viruses | The Scientist. 

Watch the Rabbit R&D webinar to hear two of Australia's leading gene-drive technologists, Dr Tanja Strive and Dr Sarah Topfer of CSIRO, discuss the potential of the technology for rabbit control.

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

NSW Government Biodiversity Conservation Trust 

Are you a NSW landholder? Would you like to protect the native biodiversity of your property and receive an annual payment for doing so? If you are in a priority areas you can apply to earn a fixed price, per hectare, each year for managing conservation areas on your property.

For more information on this grant scheme, click here.

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.

NSW Vertebrate Pest Management Symposium 2025

Dates: 21 – 23 October 2025

Venue: Coffs Harbour, NSW

For more information on the symposium, click here.

The Biodiversity Conference 2025

Dates: 28 – 30 October 2025

Venue: Perth, WA

For more information on the conference, click here.

Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference 2025

Dates: 2 – 4 December 2025

Venue: Queenstown, New Zealand

For more information on the conference, 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

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. 

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