Rabbit Sweep Cluster News

General News

If you are not yet in a supportive 'cluster' of neighbours, we may be able to help. Where there are 2 or 3 people keen to link up with neighbours, we will soon have a printed note for a letter drop to your neighbours inviting them in. Let us know if you would like notes dropped to your neighbours, and the addresses of those who might be interested. Please drop to my neighbours anonymously at this location.

Those registered for the Rabbit Sweep program will all be included for our events.

Rabbit Free Australia and the shooters checklist

Rabbit Free Australia has done some wonderful work to support us with our rabbit work. They bring us together to identify problems and then again, with some known experts, to see how to solve them. The result is excellent guidance for all of us.

See https://rabbitfreeaustralia.org.au/

Given the developments in guns and that shooting is no longer what it was in the past, there are a number of people wanting someone to shoot their rabbits and there are people offering to do so, as volunteers or for a charge.

Shooting is effective mostly when other work is complete, it does not eliminate rabbits, however many are dropped, and it is not suitable in some situations - and not a panacea, unfortunately.

What is important for anyone in this position, is to know the process and risks/benefits and to be safe.

Some situations, like the centre of Canberra, turn out to be benefitting amazingly from shooting being done there when other methods cannot be used. In other cases, perhaps shooting is most useful after all the other techniques have been deployed.

Both shooters and those who invite them in want to do the right thing. The Rabbit Free shooters' checklist should help.

See https://rabbitfreeaustralia.org.au/on-ground-control/shooters-checklist

Forthcoming events

As provously explained, Rabbit Sweep works with clusters and thus cluster members. The two events being promoted now are open to you and all members of clusters. The events might encourage your neighbours to join the team!

Rabbits under your shed, house, woodpile, ...?

So many of us have some rabbits using sheds, houses, caravans, abandoned trailers, ... for habitat. It is not obvious what we as Rabbit Sweep should recommend to those who want to reclaim the space and be rid of the rabbits.

It is possible to catch rabbits as they venture out for food but mustn't they be immediately destroyed? and how? Can ferrets help or do they risk getting stuck? Is it safe to fumigate? is bait the answer?

Rabbit Sweep, like the Department of Agriculture, can do no more than point out what is known and leave it to land managers to decide what to do based on what they learn.

We will meet at the Wallington Primary School on Saturday September 27, 10.00 am for about an hour and a half to canvas the known tips and tricks that lead to success. 

If you are interested in joining us, to share your wisdom or services or to gain some know-how, please let us know: rabbits under sheds 

You will receive details of the venue etc by email before the event.

Getting the most out of baiting

There are so many ways to lay out some bait for rabbits but which way works best in what circumstances?

Bait laying can be done by anyone with bait available from rural supply outlets. There are lots of myths surrounding what to do.

What seems to matter is doing the baiting at the right time of year, in the right weather, placing the bait in the right place, in the best way. Perhaps there are advantages of carrots over oats, irresistable 'sauces' that speed up and thus change the process, ...

This event will be held on Saturday October 4 at 10.00 am for about an hour and a half in preparation for the coming baiting season. If you are interested in joining us, to share your wisdom or gain some, please let us know: effective baiting 

This meeting might be a good event to advertise to your neighbours before a scheduled cluster-wide baiting event?

You will receive details of the venue etc by email before the event.

Site visits and process mapping

Rabbit Sweep is offering to visit members of a cluster to assess their individual rabbit problem and suggest what can be done. This volunteer work is free but needs to come to Rabbit Sweep from a cluster. If your cluster is not yet formed, or small, perhaps this offer can help you get more neighbours involved as cluster members?

Details about how to arrange a visit are in the newsletter at https://www.rabbit-sweep.org/newsletters/archive/listing