Rabbit numbers in the West Australian central wheatbelt have built up to levels that damage crops and pastures, according to the Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association.
“While that damage is hard to quantify, when you see rabbits by the hundreds at night time and even quite a few running around during the day, you know that the population is enough to cause economic damage,” said Acting Chairman Chris Patmore.
While biological controls are expected to help bring rabbit numbers back, they will not eliminate all rabbits. Some will remain and start to breed up again unless other controls, such as baiting, are applied.
For more information, see the Farm Weekly news article of July 17, 2020.
Wild European Rabbit. Image: Farm Weekly.