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The Rabbit Sweep Plan for Nov 23, 2024

The Rabbit Sweep has reached the stage where there are a lot of good ideas and practices worked out, and it is time to have another event – this time a demo day that follows Sweep ideas, prepares for a major campaign in early 2025, and brings together private and public landholders, the various aspects of integrated rabbit control, and more.

Camila Vargas was employed to work on this event and did so for several weeks before she has had to go overseas for family reasons. It is not clear what Camila will do in the future but in the immediate period, Auralie Beroit is willing to do her work with respect to the next event on similar conditions.

The demo day has been scheduled for Nov 23, a Saturday, and will take place with 3 venues:

  • public land in Drysdale from 10.00 – 12.00 pm
  • a private picnic spot with easy access to land that has benefitted from rabbit exclusion from 12.00 – 2.00 pm, and
  • private land, 2.00 – 4.00 pm.

The events will have two classifications:

  • most will be events where safe, child-friendly things are taking place and
  • some that will not happen until children and others have had a chance to leave the scene.

The Sweep has re-formed abatement activities because as everyone can be involved, exposure to the two kinds of activity will be a simple choice.

The crew planning the events are making sure of several things:

  • this is an exercise involving private and public land and public and private participants
  • participation will be free upon registration
  • permission to use the properties will be attained asap (CoGG is checking the use of the public land and the Sweep is checking the private locations)
  • locations will be inspected for safety etc the week before the event
  • locations and times and the program will be released the week prior to the day to those who have registered for the events (both for privacy and OH&S reasons)
  • participants will watch experts performing work, eg making a section of rabbit-proof fence, and be encouraged to ask questions
  • participants will not be expected to undertake on-ground work except perhaps to try smoking warrens
  • as many of the possible range of abatement activities as possible will be demonstrated throughout the day
  • participants will have a chance to meet others who may work with them in the future, and contractors that are available to help
  • activities will be arranged for children that will emphasise the abundance of rabbits and their habitat
  • inclusion of something about respect for cultural heritage and necessary procedures eg if the property is within 200 m of a water way

Participants – presenters and audience

Presenters:

  • the Sweep will arrange for all activities to be presented by someone suitably qualified
  • the location and activity will be checked in advance for safety etc and agreed
  • information about how to follow-up demonstrations will be available at the demos for participants (prepared by the Sweep and checked by presenters)
  • in some cases payment for a demonstration that benefits a land-holder will be paid for or subsidised by the land-holder
  • who is invited? Former participants of Rabbit Sweep work (in a newsletter); BLG members (in a newsletter); Members of associations that are members of the BCN; Facebook groups that are likely to include potential participants; the public via community notices on roadsides; notes will be sent to local newspapers and radio stations, ...
  • before the event the participants will know what to bring, where to go, what they will see, where to park their cars, where there are toilet facilities, …..
  • they will receive info about how to find info about abatement activities and how to use the catalogue
  • asked if there is anything they would particularly like to learn about
  • be registered as being present on the day
  • after the event, thanked for their participation and their evaluation sought of the events including what more they would like to know
  • and for participants:

Costs:

inevitably there will be some costs associated with this day . The plan is for them to be covered by the funds accumulated by the Rabbit Action Group for pellets etc. Equipment for smoking warrens will be available for sale on the day.