According to the Department of Agriculture of Western Australia rabbits are one of the most common and widespread animal pests in Australia. They are pests because they:
* compete with livestock and native animals for pasture and food
* damage crops and native vegetation
* cause erosion.
There are three fences in Western Australia: the original No. 1 Fence, which crosses the state from north to south, the No. 2 Fence which is smaller and further west, and the smaller east-west running No. 3 fence. The fences took six years to build. When completed in 1907, the Rabbit-Proof Fence (including all three fences) stretched 2,021 miles (3,253 km). The cost to build the fences at the time was £337,841.
Please consult the following informative links for more information:
- European rabbit (118kb PDF)
- Options for rabbit control (84kb PDF)
- Guide to the safe use of 1080 poison (46kb PDF)
- Landholder use of 1080 One-shot oat rabbit bait (69kb PDF)
- 1080 characteristics and use (bulletin 4776)
- 1080 Landholder information package (805kb PDF)
- 1080 verses Pindone for rabbit control in Western Australia
- 1080 baiting application form (42kb PDF)
- Conventional rabbit control: costs and tips (136bk PDF)
- Bait stations and rabbit control (189kb PDF)
- Fumigation for rabbit control (123kb PDF)
- Rabbit warren and harbourage destruction (170kb PDF)
- Use of rabbit-proof fencing to protect crops and pasture from rabbits in bush remnants (211kb PDF)
- Rabbit control in urban and semi-urban areas (91 kb PDF)
- Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD): how can you help it reduce the impact of rabbits (88kb PDF)
- Making the most of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (193kb PDF)
- State barrier fence of Western Australia centenary 1901-2001
Other relevant information
- Invasive species in Western Australia
- Invasive species – vertebrate animal pests
- Vertebrate animal pest policy, management and regulation
- Invasive species – animal pests – toxins
- Importing and keeping introduced mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Western Australia (175kb PDF)
- Vertebrate Pest Research Section Publications on rabbits (115kb PDF)
- Australian Government – List of approved abatement plans
They have also kindly provided Emergency Contact Information in case you have a Rabbit Emergency
Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)
(also for exotic plant pest disease hotline)
Freecall: 1800 084 881
Email: info@agric.wa.gov.au
Emergency Animal Diseases Watch Hotline (24 hours)
Freecall: 1800 675 888