Act now to control rabbits on Yorke Peninsula
Community groups and landholders are being urged to take advantage of funding currently available to control rabbits across Yorke Peninsula. Throughout January and February, rabbit bait will be available free of charge to community groups and landholders on Yorke Peninsula through Australian Government project funding managed by Natural Resources Northern & Yorke (NRNY).
Community groups and landholders are being urged to take advantage of funding currently available to control rabbits across Yorke Peninsula.
Throughout January and February, rabbit bait will be available free of charge to community groups and landholders on Yorke Peninsula through Australian Government project funding managed by Natural Resources Northern & Yorke (NRNY).
Yorke District Sustainable Landscapes Team Leader Max Barr said that timing is critical for effective rabbit control and people should get involved and act now.
"The more people who bait under this coordinated baiting program the greater the result will be at a landscape level," Mr Barr said.
"During the summer months rabbit numbers are at their lowest and feed is in short supply allowing for a greater uptake of bait.
"While rabbit damage is most visible in spring when the population is at its peak, summer provides us with an opportunity to reduce breeding potential and minimise population spikes later in the year, something for which rabbits are renown."
A serious environmental and agricultural pest throughout Australia, wild rabbits cost the agricultural industry more than $200 million annually in lost production.
They also compete with native animals for food and other resources, and may prevent recovery of native vegetation following drought and bushfires, exposing soils to wind and water erosion, and diminishing local biodiversity.
"You don’t need many rabbits on a patch to have a significant impact; less than one rabbit per hectare will prevent or inhibit native shrubs and trees from regenerating," Mr Barr said.
A range of rabbit bait products are available to participating groups and landholders for broadacre applications on rural properties as well as smaller farms and township sites.
Bait will be free during January and February to maximise the baiting effort across Yorke Peninsula, with bait layers also available for loan.
At other times of the year rabbit bait will be available for purchase.
Landholders can register and pre-order rabbit bait by contacting the Natural Resource Centre on 8841 3444 or by emailing DEWNR.NRNY@sa.gov.au
