Rabbit Control

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, feral rabbits are classified as biosecurity matter. This means landowners in New South Wales have a legal responsibility to manage rabbit populations and reduce the risks they pose.

Council's role

Council is responsible for rabbit control on Council-managed land. While we do not manage rabbit issues on private property, we do work with neighbouring landowners to develop strategic, location-based approaches for effective rabbit control.

For larger properties (over 10 hectares), land owners can contact Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 for assistance with designing, risk assessing, and implementing approved rabbit control programs.

What Council does

Council runs an annual rabbit control program across 7 public reserves in the shire.

Monitoring

Assess rabbit population size, distribution and activity levels to inform targeted control programs and measure management effectiveness across 7 priority public council reserves for annual assessment:

Areas targeted

  • Bermagui Headland Reserve
  • Tathra Headland Reserve
  • Short Point Reserve, Merimbula
  • Long Point Reserve, Merimbula
  • Pambula Beach Surf Life Saving Club Beach Reserve
  • Eden Eagles Claw Reserve
  • Eden Warrens Walk Reserve

Note: Not all reserves will have annual controls. Priority is given to the most effected sites for that year after assessment.

Control Program

Council will undertake annual rabbit population surveys during the Spring/Summer months to identify priority sites and determine where control efforts will deliver the greatest environmental and public benefit. Not all areas will be targeted for control each year. Survey results and site assessments will be used to prioritise areas based on the level of risk posed to the community, public assets, and the environment at the time.

Controls are based on the most effective tools available.

Previous testing of rabbit populations has shown that most rabbits within our reserves are immune to the latest strain of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), commonly known as calicivirus.

Shooting

Shooting is carried out where rabbit populations have shown resistance to the calicivirus.

Virus Introduction

Council will adopt and deploy new viral biocontrol strains as they become available and are approved for use.

These efforts help protect our parks, reserves, and natural areas, reduce physical damage (e.g. holes, uneven ground), and safeguard planting and landscaping programs. Rabbits also compete with native wildlife for food and habitat, making control essential.

 What you can do

Feral_european_Rabbit

Keeping wild rabbits off your property.

There are three simple steps you can take to keep wild rabbits off your property:

  • Fence the property to prevent access
  • Protect valuable garden plantings using guards or low-level mesh fencing
  • Place blood and bone around the property boundary to help deter rabbits
  • Spray plants with a liquid deterrent made from boiled garlic and chilli and reapply after rain.

Report rabbit activity via the Feral Scan website

  • Visit the website or download the FeralScan Mobile App from the App Store or Google Play.
  • Log the exact location and time of sightings on the map.

FeralScan is hosted by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and supports regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups, local Councils, and landholders.

Your reports help Council develop, implement, and monitor rabbit control programs on Council-managed land. We follow up on individual reports as resources and priorities allow.

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