Rabbits need harbour!
Rabbits need harbour to multiply so eliminating potential harbour is in itself a major step towards eliminating rabbits!
Today, we acknowledge that some rabbit harbour can be mechanically 'ripped' but we are concerned to only do this when the rabbits inside warrens etc have been eliminated (either poisoned or fumigated). In addition to ripping, which can be done with very big devices or quite small excavators, some devices can shake the ground causing warrens to reform and 'settle'.
Other potential harbour is often found under burn piles, waiting for the perfect weather. Again, it is important to eliminate the rabbits before burning off but it is good practice to monitor burn piles and regularly reduce them. This can only be done, of course, when it is a suitable fire burning period and the usual precautions are observed.
Under sheds, containers, other rubbish, big equipment, gorse bushes, and more, are also potential harbour spots. One-way flaps can be inserted in fences (check the one-way direction).
How are rabbits eliminated from such potential harbour? In the usual way, rabbits can be baited or very effectively removed by an expert with ferrets.
If it is too late to burn off, or too early next year, eliminating the rabbits from under the pile and fencing it off to keep any new ones out is a good strategy.
Nevertheless, cleaning up potential rabbit harbour is a very effective strategy for rabbit control. How to remove potential habitats depends on the materials involved:
- piles of tree branches and similar things can be burnt. This needs to be done before or after the fire season.
- plants siuch as gorse, agapanthas, etc can be very convenient for rabbits who do not dig warrens when they are not necessary. Check how bushes and other plants are being used. Perhaps trim plants so they are not so useful to rabbits.
- shed bases, shipping containers, etc often attract digging of warrens underneath them. Once rabbits are out, the tunnels should be filled and blocked.
- creeping plants growing up fences. Whether the fence is 'rabbit-proof' or not, if it is integrated into plant-life it can act both as protective harbour, and a bridge to get over the fence.
- and some things just need to be taken to the tip!
There are many resources available on the Web that may interest you.
We ask you to remember to always pick the most suitable control method. Some practices don't mention consideration of the welfare of the rabbits -, the rabbits should be dispatched before undertakling some of the harbour destruction procedures.
We recommend visiting the Pestsmart website for information. Note that this website allows you to focus your research. Try visiting https://pestsmart.org.au/
or go to