Tackling rabbits in the city

The Limestone Coast (LC) Landscape Board is encouraging landholders in Mount Gambier to take action against the growing wild rabbit population and control them on their property.

The announcement comes following reports from the community highlighting an increase in rabbit numbers across the city, in particular hotspot areas such as Pioneer Park.

As part of the Urban Wild Rabbit Control Program, the LC Landscape Board are supporting property owners in targeted urban areas to control wild rabbits on their property by offering discounted pindone bait collection days throughout January 2025.

LC Landscape Board Southern Landscape Operations team leader Lizzie Doyle said the discounted bait collection days were an opportunity for property owners to manage the populations impacting their property.

“Once established in an area, controlling rabbits can be challenging,” she said.

Rabbits are notorious for their ability to reproduce at alarming rates, with one pair capable of producing up to 180 offspring in 18 months under ideal conditions.

“The milder winter has led to the rabbit population boom, leading to greater damage to gardens, landscaping, foot paths and infrastructure,’” Ms Doyle said.

Under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, property owners are responsible for controlling wild rabbits on their property.

“We have written to a number of property owners in targeted areas urging them to control the ”

To ensure property owners control efforts are effective, we are working with the City of Mount Gambier to manage wild rabbit populations on public land throughout the city.

“Rabbits do not respect property boundaries, so it is crucial that neighbours work together to address the problem.

“By coordinating our efforts over a short period, we have the best chance of reducing the population, minimising reinvasion, and safeguarding properties from the impact of wild rabbits.”

Controlling wild rabbits in townships can be difficult due to the abundance of food sources, such as watered gardens.

There are also different baiting options in urban areas compared to rural areas.

Effective control of rabbits in townships requires multiple methods, including pindone poison baiting, trapping, warren destruction, fumigation, and biological controls. Pindone poison bait is the only approved bait for rabbit control in urban areas and is safe for pets and wildlife when used correctly.

“To support control efforts, our Landscape Officers will continue to release biological controls such as calicivirus around Mount Gambier,” Ms Doyle said. “However, it is important to note that while biological controls play an important role, they alone will not reduce wild rabbit populations to sustainable levels so traditional methods are still needed.”

Local Landscape Officers are here to help and assist property owners with their rabbit control efforts.

For more information or to register for a bait collection day, visit lc.landscape.sa.gov.au