Contractors

Bellarine Landcare acknowledges the need for expertise, on-ground activity, and aims to help land-holders find suitable contractual support for their rabbit work.

There are many tasks including some with which you might want help. The following is not exhaustive but might be useful:

1. Locate your contractor and establish a contract - how much per hour? can they offer return visits? what is planned for annual maintenance? etc. Check the contractor is appriopriately licensed if they intend to mix baits or fumigate (ACUP licence), shoot, implode, etc.
2. Ask for a map of the warrens etc and a plan for action. The map can be private but RabbitScan is recommended. The plan can be useful for review by a member of the Rabbit Sweep team or any other expert.
3. Check the location and the season and the weather - they all affect the outcomes. (See the BLG calendar.)
4. Make sure rabbit-proof fences will be checked and repaired (if necessary) and gates are shut and rabbit-proof.
5. If the plan includes baiting and fumigation, that can be done by a single person but check qualifications. 
6. Check how warrens and habitat will be treated - fence off habitat if necessary. Check if ripping or implosion might also be needed. These may a require separate, qualified contractor.
7. Check all locations for Aboriginal Heritage constraints - note controlling can be done but sometimes with extra permissions etc.
8. Advise your neighbours of potential action and, if possible, work with them (one fence around more than one property, avoid their rabbits moving in to your property, or perhaps just plain 'help them'. (Contractors are required to put appropriate notices on your property.)
9. Report work done using RabbitScan - you may need to know about it again in the future. Send a short report of what you did and learnt to the Rabbit Sweep community.
10. Review the work done and ensure the follow-up will cover any missed spots. Expect to spend a few years to eliminate rabbits but you will save money and the environment is worth it!

The followiong list may be of use to you.