Introducing, keeping and supplying rabbits in Queensland is illegal and penalties apply. Limited types of permits for domestic rabbits are available from Biosecurity Queensland for research purposes, public display, magic acts, and circuses. Before a permit is granted, guidelines must be met.

The first step in adaptive pest management is to define the problem and understand as much as possible about the pest. Analysis of rabbit problems is aided by data on:

• Their impact – signs of rabbit damage.
• Their distribution and abundance – where rabbits are found and, especially, where their warrens are. Warrens are crucial to rabbit breeding and therefore a key to their control. Knowing where they feed can help if baiting will be part of the control program.

Rabbits can be difficult to control even when they are in small numbers, and there are very few available methods that are inherently humane. However, it is possible to improve the humaneness of a control program by ensuring that it is carried out at the most appropriate time and in accordance with best practice. 

This article provides some basic advice on how to reduce the impacts of rabbits in a semi-rural setting and outlines the most humane control methods available for small-scale rabbit control.

The DDMRB provides technical support and advice to landholders within its operational area, which encompasses eight local government area. The board employs 15 staff members who patrol and maintain the fence weekly, utilizing vehicles and, in some rugged terrains, conducting foot patrols. ​ddmrb.org.au+8ddmrb.org.au+8ddmrb.org.au+8

In Queensland, rabbits are classified as a restricted invasive animal and are prohibited as pets. The maximum penalty for keeping rabbits in the state is $66,725. Residents are encouraged to report rabbit sightings to help contain the population and protect the environment and agricultural lands.