Why are they a pest? 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.
In 1859, European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were introduced into the Australian wild so that they could be hunted. Thomas Austin, a wealthy settler who lived in Victoria, Australia, had 13 European wild rabbits sent to him from across the world, which he let roam free on his estate.
Feral rabbits may have caused the extinction of several small (up to 5.5 kilograms) ground-dwelling mammals of Australia's arid lands, and have contributed to the decline in numbers of many native plants and animals.
The European wild rabbit is an introduced pest throughout the southern two thirds of Australia. They affect natural environments, primary production, and even townships and infrastructure. Wild rabbits are 'ecosystem engineers', fundamentally changing whole ecosystems.
As little as one Rabbit per hectare can prevent many sensitive tree species from regenerating. Rabbits preferentially graze on native vegetation versus exotic plants, thereby increasing weed abundance and damaging ecosystem function11.
Rabbits impact our national parks and reserves by: reducing the regeneration of native plants through grazing and ringbarking of saplings. competing with native animals for food and shelter. damaging historic and cultural sites, through soil erosion caused by overgrazing.
Damage to Landscapes
Rabbits damage woody plants by gnawing bark or clipping off branches, stems, and buds. Young plants are clipped off up to 2 inches above the height of the snow. Trees and shrubs may be completely girdled. The character of the bark on woody plants influences browsing by rabbits.
Pindone. Pindone is a first-generation anticoagulant poison that has been used to control rabbits in Australia since the 1980s.
Agricultural and economic impacts
It has been estimated that rabbits cost Australian agriculture over $200 million in lost production every year. In Victoria and Tasmania alone, it's estimated that rabbits cost $30 million in lost production for the beef, lamb and wool industries per year.
Rabbits can be very destructive to gardens and landscaped areas. Most rabbit damage is close to the ground and will show a characteristic diagonal 45° cut from their incisors. The most long-term, effective way to protect plantings from rabbit damage is to build a fence.
In their natural habitats, rabbits provide ecological benefits as an important member of the food web. By consuming plants, rabbits keep plant life in check. They are also an important food source for many carnivorous predators, particularly bobcats.
A group of rabbits is known as a colony or nest (or, occasionally, a warren, though this more commonly refers to where the rabbits live). A group of baby rabbits produced from a single mating is referred to as a litter and a group of domestic rabbits living together is sometimes called a herd.
In general, rabbit poop is not harmful to humans, cats, dogs, or other animals. The diseases that can be transmitted through their feces are species specific and would only pose a threat to other rabbits. Even then, it's likely that if your rabbit is healthy, they will not spread anything through their poop.
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), or calicivirus is a virus that typically causes a rapidly fatal disease in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). There are three types of RHDV present in Australia (RHDV1, RHDV1a and RHDV2).
Rabbits were introduced to Australia in the 1800s by European settlers. Free from diseases and facing relatively few predators in a modified environment, the wild populations grew rapidly.
Habitat and soil type (the soil's suitability for burrowing) has an effect on how many rabbits live in a particular area. Disease outbreaks can also cause rabbit populations to crash and residual disease levels probably have an ongoing limiting effect. Drought limits food supply and breeding success.
Except where otherwise stated, most states and territories allow the hunting of pest species – feral dogs, feral goats, feral pigs, foxes, hares, and rabbits – at any time of year with the landowner's permission. Every state and territory requires those carrying firearms to be licensed to do so.
The indirect impacts of rabbits are harder to value, but just as real. Warren establishment and grazing by rabbits can lead to increased areas of bare ground and subsequent erosion by wind and water. On-farm that can mean lost production due to lost top-soil, damage to fences and waters and to increased weed problems.
Rabbits can affect livestock enterprises as they: reduce the carrying capacity of farms by competing with livestock for feed. damage emerging crops. reduce plant biodiversity by eating seedlings and killing shrubs.
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were first introduced to Australia in the 18th century with the First Fleet, and later became widespread, because of Thomas Austin. Such wild rabbit populations are a serious mammalian pest and invasive species in Australia causing millions of dollars' worth of damage to crops.
The Australia-wide rabbit invasion resulted from a single introduction of just 24 animals in 1859, new research has confirmed. Using historical and genetic data, scientists have pinpointed the origins of what they call “the fastest colonisation rate for an introduced mammal ever recorded”.
Trapping is not considered an effective or efficient rabbit control technique, although it is occasionally used in areas with small, isolated rabbit populations. Where foot-hold traps are to be used, padded-jaw traps are the more humane alternative, and hence, steel-jaw traps are prohibited in NSW.
In general, cats are lower maintenance pets than rabbits. Cats are less destructive, require less individual attention, and are more quickly litter trained. It's even a lot easier to find a veterinarian for a cat than it is for a rabbit.
It's rare that a rabbit will spread a disease or bacteria to you or your child. But it can happen. Make sure you and your child wash your hands carefully after any contact with the: rabbit.
Typically, rabbit damage can create big problems for yards. They gnaw plants down to the root and concentration of urine can create brown spots in lawns.