Welcome to the second edition of our quarterly newsletter for the National Feral Rabbit Management Coordination Program. 

In recognition of NAIDOC week celebrated earlier in the month, I wanted to share a video created by the Victorian Rabbit Action Network that features Wurundjeri elder Uncle Dave Wandin. He reminds us how we can all work together to solve the rabbit issue. View the video here. 

Rabbits impact us all - everywhere, every day. By working together on rabbit management programs, we share the problem, expand the area treated and improve the effectiveness of our programs.  In the long term, this collaboration effort helps provide protection for our unique native species, agriculture, cultural heritage sites, backyards and our shared community assets.  

We have some great information and resources in this newsletter to help you, your communities and organisations manage feral rabbits. In the events section, you will find there are a lot of opportunities to network and learn more about pest management programs.  

I'm looking forward to attending the upcoming National NRM Knowledge Conference on 8-12 September in Cairns, as well as the National Landcare Conference on 21-24 September at the Gold Coast. I hope to see you there! 

And in case you missed it, the first edition of this newsletter was published in May 2025. You can view it here and subscribe to all future editions here. 

- Heidi Kleinert, National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator

If you're managing a project that involves rabbit control for the protection of threatened species or the sustainability of agriculture, the National Code of Practice (CoP) is a must-read. This comprehensive guide outlines best-practice approaches, humane control methods, and key biological insights to help you plan and deliver effective rabbit management programs.

The CoP sets a national standard while allowing for stricter local regulations, and supports compliance with existing legal and safety requirements. Whether you're new to rabbit management or looking to refresh your approach, the CoP is an essential resource.

Alongside the CoP, the Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits is another valuable resource for those starting to manage feral rabbits. Produced by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (the Centre), 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.

The Glovebox Guide is available online but if you would like a large amount of hard copies, please order here and the Centre can quote for bespoke branding on the cover to align with your own organisation or network. 

The Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network is hosting two online webinars around controlling pests, such as rabbits, in August. 

The webinar on 7 Aug (register here) will discuss apps to map, monitor and treat pest problems, and give participants the confidence to use them in the field. 

The webinar on 14 Aug (register here) will feature rabbit control experts, who will share what's involved in planning and executing a well-informed rabbit control program. 

This video from Agriculture Victoria provides a simple overview of the impact of rabbits and the management techniques that landowners can use to control them.

It is Part 1 of a five-part series which includes: Rabbit control in Victoria, Rabbit control in Victoria - baiting, Rabbit control in Victoria - ripping, Rabbit control in Victoria - fumigation and Supplementary Rabbit control options in Victoria.

Well worth a watch!

It is important to connect with government authorities before undertaking rabbit management programs. PestSmart can help you to connect with the relevant authorities in your region, as well as the Vertebrate Pest Management Association of Australia who have links with professional controllers.

Find out more here. 

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

CSIRO reported that in April they received submissions from Vic, ACT, WA, SA, and Tas.

RHDV2 remains the dominant circulating strain in positive cases and seems to be active in all of the above listed states.

Image: Location of submitted cases for calicivirus testing between April 2025 and June 2025. In most submitted samples, calicivirus was not detected.

As the National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator, I have the opportunity to connect with a wide range of stakeholders to better understand the complexities of rabbit management in Australia. These discussions always provide valuable insights into legislative frameworks, operational challenges, funding pathways, and research priorities. I also get to share some of my knowledge to help support on-ground efforts and collaboration.

Here's a snapshot of some recent engagement activities across the state:

NSW: I met in the field with Louise MacDonald and Brad Kelk from Local Land Services to examine rabbit infestation sites located in Murrumbateman, Lake George and Bungendore. This meeting provided insights into resourcing, funding flows, rabbit management methods, and partnerships with landholders and community groups.

SA: I was invited to attend two community information nights at Strathalbyn and Mt Torrens to discuss the impacts of rabbits and the new Drought Support Program.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, in collaboration with Landscape Boards, is currently coordinating warren ripping programs, 1080 bait programs and calicivirus programs across multiple regions to assist primary producers dealing with drought conditions to help reduce the impacts of rabbits. 

For more information contact the project coordinator:

Byron Manning – PIRSA Biosecurity Officer
Phone: 0411 655 883
Email: byron.manning2@sa.gov.au

Images: Community information nights at Strathalbyn and Mt Torrens.

Tas/Vic: Many states have been experiencing natural disasters such as flooding and drought. I met with the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators (SAF) representatives from Tasmania and Victoria to discuss rabbit impacts and the importance of rabbit management to support landscape recovery. I will be meeting with the rest of the SAF state representatives in August.

Image: Miguel, Heidi and Rafa at CISS headquarters.

In June, I had the privilege of meeting with retired leading scientist Brian Cooke and visiting researchers Rafael Villafuerte and Miguel Delibes-Mateos from the Spanish National Research Council. Miguel and Rafael are investigating the intersection of rabbits, natural and social sciences, and the broader impacts of human activities such as hunting and land use on wildlife management.

Their visit provided a valuable opportunity to:

- Share insights on Australia's rabbit management tools, including stakeholder collaboration across land tenures and innovative platforms like RabbitScan and PestSmart.

- Observe the real-world impact of rabbits on landscapes and native species across ACT and NSW.

- Discuss the challenges of rabbit control in Spain, where management is limited to hunting and ferreting due to the absence of toxin use.

- Showcase Spanish research to CSIRO and foster discussions around research collaboration and sample sharing.

- Connect the Spanish researchers with the Australian Rabbit Managers Network to strengthen global knowledge exchange.

In July, I attended the inaugural Drought Resilience 2025 conference at Deakin Waurn Ponds Estate.

The conference brought together experts from various fields including sciences, health, law, business, technology, humanities, and arts, as well as traditional knowledge, to share insights and explore collaborative approaches for enhancing drought resilience.

The conference provided the opportunity to connect with the key figures behind the eight Drought and Innovation Hubs and I look forward to collaborating with three Directors of the State Drought & Innovation Hubs - Dr Sara Hely, Tony Randall, and Tanya Kilminster - in the near future.

Image: Dr Sara Hely and Heidi Kleinert.

In the last edition of the newsletter, we invited you to take our PestSmart survey to help us understand how you use the website and how we could improve.

Below is a short summary of what you told us. We want everyone to access PestSmart information easily.

Over the next 12 months, we will review the survey results and suggestions for improvement, with the aim to incorporate changes to provide a better digital service.

Lachie McIntrye from Project Platypus invited Gillian Basnett, National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator, Nigel Roberts from Agriculture Victoria and me to host a community information session to raise awareness and motivate the community to take action on vertebrate pest species.

Nigel and I co-presented to around 40 community members, covering topics such as the history and introduction of rabbits in Australia, their ecology and biology, insights from ABARES survey data, best-practice management strategies, the coordinator program, and how to access key rabbit management resources.

The next event for Project Platypus will be to deliver a rabbit management bootcamp in collaboration with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network. Keep an eye on their website for more details.

Images: Community members attending field demonstrations.

How do you manage rabbit populations in an urban environment that provides an ideal habitat for them, surrounded by people, buildings, parks, gardens, and critical infrastructure?

It requires the three C's: Commitment, Collaboration, and Coordination.

In the ACT, a dedicated Rabbit Control Working Group is addressing this challenge head-on. This group consists of representatives from ACT Government departments, the National Capital Authority, and the Department of Defence, who are working together to develop and implement effective rabbit management strategies across Canberra's parks and gardens.

Recently, I joined Katy McGregor and Mark Sweaney from ACT Parks, along with professional contractor Guy Fayle from Australian Wildlife Management, for a field trip to observe a nighttime rabbit shoot and explore various urban rabbit control programs.

Image: Mady Rutherford, CSIRO, collecting tissue samples.

Image: Before rabbit control activities on City Hill, Canberra.

Image: After rabbit control activities on City Hill, Canberra.

Since 2023, the program has utilised thermal-assisted air rifles in Canberra Nature Park reserves to manage large rabbit populations. This method was previously trialled in Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves and has shown positive results when combined with other control measures, including virus releases, ripping, and fumigation. The program is carefully managed with public safety as a top priority.

One notable example is City Hill, a central feature in Canberra's urban design, which plays a key role in the city's aesthetic as a planned capital. Despite being only 5.19 hectares in size, City Hill was once overrun by rabbits. Since the program began 165 warrens have been fumigated and 538 rabbits removed through thermal-assisted ground shooting, resulting in an 89% decrease to the population.

To ensure resources are used efficiently, the rabbits that are removed are donated to science. Members of CSIRO's Genetic Biocontrol Team, Mady Rutherford and Sarah Topfer, collect tissue samples in the field for scientific research on new genetic techniques for managing rabbits.

ACT Parks and the Rabbit Control Working Group meet regularly to discuss program updates and plan future programs to stay on top of the urban rabbit problem.

To learn more, view this video from CSIRO or this short ABC video and article. 

Image: Team behind the scenes - ACT Parks Australian Wildlife Management, CSIRO and National Feral Rabbit Management Coordinator.

Have you found a dead rabbit? If you suspect that it has died from a virus (calicivirus or myxomatosis) and would like confirmation, you can request a sample test kit.

By submitting a tissue sample for testing, you contribute valuable data that helps track the spread of biocontrol viruses in your area. This information helps local land managers to plan future coordinated rabbit control programs - maximising the effectiveness of biocontrol efforts, supports ongoing research, helps raise awareness to determine virus outbreaks and contributes to the monthly map. Samples are welcomed all year.

You can request the free test kits either through Rabbit Scan or CSIRO.

RabbitScan is a website and smartphone app that allows people to record pest animal sightings, the damage they cause and control actions in their local area.

It's free and easy to use, so why not try it out? Download the app here. 

Image: Dr Ben Allen

I recently joined three national webinars co-hosted by Rabbit Free Australia and Dr Ben Allen on Animal Ethics and Welfare.

The sessions explored the growing public criticism around lethal pest animal control and highlighted the importance of using clear communication and science to foster constructive conversations on this complex issue.

Dr Ben Allen spoke at the 2024 Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference on this topic, which can be viewed here. 

Rabbits are an enormous problem for Australian ecosystems – they're a major threat to 322 species of plants and animals already at risk of extinction. This is more than double the number of species threatened by cats and foxes.

To keep rabbit numbers down, many land managers roll out rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, a powerful biocontrol. Land managers play a crucial role in conserving the environment and managing pest species – their involvement is essential to the success of many conservation programs.

But new research finds around three quarters of land managers who reported releasing the biocontrol don't follow the recommended guidelines, and release it during the peak rabbit breeding period. This potentially leads to the population actually increasing as young rabbits build an immunity to the virus.

Read more here. 

Image: Feral Rabbit standing near water hole.

Rabbits show remarkable changes in skull shape due to domestication and feralisation.

By studying over 900 specimens, researchers have found that both processes created unique morphologies not seen in wild rabbits, shaped by common evolutionary patterns like skull size and facial tilt.

Feral rabbits don't simply revert to wild types - they follow their own evolutionary path, highlighting how human influence and the environment can drive long-term biological change.

Read the full study here. 

The Biosecurity Bill passed the South Australian Parliament on 6 February, becoming the Biosecurity Act 2025.

The Act will ensure South Australia's biosecurity system remains effective, contemporary and adaptable for future needs. 

Find out more here. 

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

Wettenhall Environment Trust Small Environmental Grant Scheme

The Wettenhall Environment Trust's Small Environmental Grant Scheme offers funding from $2,000 to $15,000 for projects that positively impact the natural environment. This program supports grassroots organisations, individuals, and academics collaborating with community groups to advance biodiversity conservation in Australia.

For more information on this grant scheme, click here.

Paddy Pallin Research Grants

The Paddy Pallin Research Grants, jointly offered by the Paddy Pallin Foundation and the Royal Zoological Society of NSW, provide up to $10,000 to support field-based ecological research focused on conservation challenges in Australian ecosystems.

Applications for the 2025 round closes 31 August. Grants are awarded in October with funding commencing in November. To find out more information or to apply for a grant, 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.

National NRM Knowledge Conference

Dates: 8 – 12 September 2025

Venue: Cairns, QLD

For more information on the symposium, click here.

National Landcare Conference

Dates: 21 – 24 September 2025

Venue: Gold Coast, QLD

For more information on the conference, click here.

Weed Management Society of SA State Weeds and Pests Conference

Dates: 21 – 24 September 2025

Venue: Adelaide, SA

For more information on the conference, 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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