The next Barrabool Hills annual rabbit baiting program, run entirely by volunteers, is scheduled for February 2025 which will be the 20th year that the Barrabool Hills Landcare Group have assisted the community and coordinated the ordering of rabbit bait for individual landholders throughout the area in a major rabbit control program.

Annual baiting of rabbits is only a small part of the process to control these feral animals in the long term. To prevent immigrant rabbits from moving into the old warrens it is best to rip the warrens or fill them in, about two weeks after the last baiting. It is also best to manage any sites that provide harbor for rabbits above the ground, such as wood piles, low growing trees and shrubs and stone heaps. Those who have been part of the program for a number of years will know that the only way to really eradicate rabbits on your property is to maintain a year-round vigil and, where possible, enlist your neighbours to do the same.

‘Meet the Ferals’, an interesting 10 min YouTube video produced and presented by ABC Landline reporter, Prue Adams, is part of a pest series worth watching. It looks at the history of rabbits, the devastating impact feral animals have on Australia’s environment and agriculture, discusses what scientists and land managers are doing to control these introduced pests and includes great archive footage. If you are interested, you can watch it through the VRAN website or here.

If you need any advice about controlling rabbits or other landcare issues, and you are not already a member, you may be interested in joining the Landcare Group. For a small $30 a year you receive an attractive gate sign and bimonthly newsletter, and of course, membership of an energetic community group striving to make our landscape a more sustainable place to live! Become a Member today!