Rabbit Baiting & Control Programs
Grazing by the European Rabbit has a major impact on our environment, parks and reserves. Council’s rabbit control program aims to protect native flora and threatened species. The program also reduces the amount of damage to grassed areas.
Reporting Rabbits
Report rabbit activity, damage, control activities and diseases via the Rabbitscan website.
This data cis used by Council, the State Government and landholders to help guide control efforts based on locations and trends.
Rabbitscan is available here (feralscan.org.au).
Free Community Rabbit Baiting Program
Council offers a free Community Rabbit Baiting program twice a year. Council will provide both unbaited and baited carrots (supplied by Local Land Services) required for the program.
The program runs for two weeks. Week one is the free unbaited carrot feed days. Carrots are spread over the property at dusk and any leftover uneaten carrots are collected and disposed of the next morning. This is conducted over 3 days with a break day in-between. The baited carrots are conducted over two days the week after with two day break between baiting.
Unbaited carrots will be provided and purchased by Council. The baited carrots will be provided by Local Land Services and purchased by Council to give to landholders.
The program is free to all residents.
Requirements
- You must be a resident of The Hills Shire Council
- You must complete a free online training course available here and provide council with the certificate upon completion
- You will be required to provide your above qualifications, and fill in paperwork on the days when picking up the baited carrots as per the Pindone Pest Control Order
- The property you are baiting must be larger than 1000m2
- You must be committed to collecting carrots from the pickup point in Annangrove on each of the 5 scheduled days
- You must notify your neighbours 3 days prior to Pindone baiting
- On the day of baiting, you must display signage (supplied by Local Land Services) on your property to indicate that rabbit baiting is in progress which must remain up for a minimum of 4 weeks after the last day of baiting.
Key Documents
Online Rabbit Baiting Registration Form
Local Land Services - Responsible Rabbit Control Fact Sheet(PDF, 692KB)
Wild Rabbit Pesticide Control Order Under Section 38(PDF, 44KB)
About the RHDV Virus
THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL PARTICIPATES IN THE RHDV-K5 VIRUS ANNUAL RELEASE
RABBIT OWNERS IN THE HILLS ARE URGED TO VACCINATE PET RABBITS AGAINST THE RHDV-K5 VIRUS
The annual program aims to reduce the population of feral rabbits throughout Northern Sydney. The program is run in conjunction with Greater Sydney Local Land Services.
People with pet rabbits are encouraged to vaccinate their animals at their local vet. Do this before the annual release of Calicivirus into the feral rabbit population in public reserves.
Calicivirus is also known as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV-K5). RHDV-K5 is a previously existing virus in the feral rabbit population. It is spreadsthrough rabbit-to-rabbit contact and via biting insects.
RHDV-K5 only affects rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Pet rabbits can be affected. To protect your pet contact your local vet to vaccinate your rabbit.
It is recommended by the Australian Veterinary Association that pet rabbits are vaccinated as follows:
- Kittens: 4, 8, 12 weeks of age, then 6 monthly for life.
- Adults: 2 vaccinations 1 month apart, then 6 monthly for life.
For more information on protecting your pet rabbit, please visit the PetSmart website.
Rabbit Baiting
The Hills Shire Council in conjunction with Local Land Services undertakes a rabbit baiting program within select parks and reserves.
The next rabbit baiting program will be announced later in the year.
The program is undertaken as per the Pesticide Control (Pindone Products) Order 2010. The pesticide is lethal to dogs and cats and if consumed can cause illness to humans.
Contact your local vet or seek medical advice in the case of suspected poisoning. Please follow directions of on-site notification signs. Call Council on 9843 0555 for more details.