Rabbits are one of Australia's most destructive pest animals. They have a significant negative and costly impact on agriculture through overgrazing and they endanger many threatened plant species and ecological communities. NSW Environment and Heritage work to reduce their impact on native plants, animals and the environment.

This page is a resource provided by NSW Environment and Heritage.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pindone is a first generation anticoagulant used to control rabbits in areas where the alternative rabbit poison, sodium fluoroacetate (1080), is either impractical or unsuitable. These include urban and semi- rural areas including hobby farms, golf courses and horticultural areas. Pindone inhibits the manufacture of blood clotting factors (prothrombin), leading to a reduction in the clotting ability of the blood. Large single exposures can result in acute poisoning, however, pindone is highly effective when given as a series of smaller doses over a period of 4 to 12 days. This causes anticoagulant poisoning with a long latent period between ingestion and mortality, resulting in death due to internal haemorrhaging. One of the advantages of pindone is the availability of an antidote in the case of accidental poisonings.

There are currently two chemical forms of pindone; pindone acid (a mixture of keto and enol forms) and pindone sodium (sodium salt of pindone), which are used to prepare baits for rabbit control in Australia. The main difference between the two is that pindone acid has low water solubility while the sodium salt is soluble in water. Based on the differences in water solubility it has been proposed, but not yet proven, that baits based on pindone acid will remain active for a longer period than baits based on pindone sodium. Acid and salt forms of pindone can be regarded as essentially equivalent in toxicity once ingested as gastric acidity liberates the “free acid” from the salt. Both forms of pindone break down to the same end-product in the field and have the same non-target impacts to fauna.

Newsroom Investigates goes down the rabbit hole looking at the South Island region overrun with rabbits.

The video titled "Menace Of The Rabbit (1948)" is an archival newsreel documenting Australia's struggle with a massive rabbit infestation in the mid-20th century.

It showcases the ecological and agricultural devastation caused by the unchecked rabbit population, which led to significant crop destruction and land degradation.

The footage highlights the extensive measures taken to control the outbreak, including fencing, poisoning, and trapping, underscoring the severity of the issue and the lengths to which authorities went to mitigate the damage.​

Rabbits are one of the most destructive invasive species in Australia. This video shows how to effectively add baiting to your control program. This video is Part 2 of a five-part series: Rabbit control in Victoria, Rabbit control in Victoria - baiting, Rabbit control in Victoria - ripping, Rabbit control in Victoria - fumigation, Supplementary Rabbit control options in Victoria

Rabbits are one of the most destructive invasive species in Australia. This video highlights things you should know when considering rabbit warren ripping as part of your pest animal control activities. This video is Part 3 of a five-part series: Rabbit control in Victoria, Rabbit control in Victoria - baiting, Rabbit control in Victoria - ripping, Rabbit control in Victoria - fumigation, Supplementary Rabbit control options in Victoria

The Rabbit Sweep project, led by the Bellarine Landcare Group (BLG) Rabbit Action Group, is a community-driven initiative aimed at controlling the invasive rabbit population on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Recognizing the extensive environmental damage caused by rabbits to native flora and fauna, the project advocates for a comprehensive, peninsula-wide strategy.​rabbit-sweep.org

Key components of the project include:​

• Community Engagement: Encouraging local residents to participate in rabbit control efforts, fostering a sense of collective responsibility.​rabbit-sweep.org

• Research and Education: Conducting studies to understand effective control methods and disseminating this knowledge through educational activities.​rabbit-sweep.org

• Collaborative Strategy Development: Bringing together experts from across Victoria to design a unified approach to rabbit management.​rabbit-sweep.org

• Implementation of a 'Rabbit-Proof' Boundary: Exploring the feasibility of establishing a barrier to prevent rabbit re-entry, inspired by successful pest eradication models on other islands.​rabbit-sweep.org

The initiative aims to restore the ecological balance of the Bellarine Peninsula by reducing rabbit-induced degradation, thereby supporting the region's biodiversity and agricultural productivity. The project commenced local implementation in 2024–2025, with plans for broader application in the future.