Rabbit Sweep Cluster News

 General news - plan an assessment visit

Rabbit Sweep is funded to help clusters of neighbours control their rabbits. We do not have funds for doing the on-ground work but we aim to support those who are engaged with us. 

First we form a cluster - ie bring together a small group of neighbours concerned about rabbits (some have lots and some none). We introduce neighbours sometimes and offer some contacts that might help.

As we work with clusters, not individual landholders, we offer support to clusters and specifically offer expert advice and practical demonstrations.

An initial cluster meeting at the nominated cluster leader’s property will be organised where the process will be explained and a walk around will ensue with other cluster members observing the analysis process and the use of a mud map.

David Lucas has volunteered generously to give assessment advice to clusters. A cluster can identify members who would welcome an individual site visit and 'problem and solution' analysis. The cluster can then contact Rabbit Sweep with a couple of possible dates.  David will visit and walk around each of the properties with the land holder. He will look at the situation and advise on what would be best to do in what order. The land holder will provide a mud-map of the property and take notes during the tour. This information gathering is for the use of the land holder - Rabbit Sweep does not need to know the details but would like at least an image of the mud-map and notes. We anticipate the tour taking about 30 minutes per property. David's advice is free and not binding but a land holder might choose to share it with their other cluster members when planning action. In particular, it might be useful for organising a cluster-wide Pindone baiting event or fumigation or warren ripping. Land holders seeking commercial services can also use this information.

Landholders might choose to document their situation as part of their planning, or for furture comparison, or whatever. Two different reporting forms can help with this and may prove helpful to Rabbit Sweep in the future. They are:

1. a check-list of things to consider at https://www.rabbit-sweep.org/rabbit-sweep-2025-2027/on-going-work/site-visit-report, and 

2. an index found useful by sheep farmers at https://www.rabbit-sweep.org/rabbit-sweep-2025-2027/on-going-work/awi-index

 Forthcoming events

 Heidi Kleinert, National Rabbit Management Coordinator is coming!