Rabbit control

We have been experiencing an increase in the number of rabbits being reported across the region. In all instances property owners are required to make a reasonable effort to remove rabbits from their property, however the process for reporting rabbits differs depending on whether or not a property lies inside or outside of the area administered by the Darling Down-Moreton Rabbit Board.

The Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board maintains 555 km of rabbit-proof fence, which runs from Mt Gipps (near Rathdowney) to Goombi (between Chinchilla and Miles), where it joins up with the wild dog barrier fence and is the primary point of contact for all rabbit reporting within the board area.

Contact details

Landholders that live inside the board area should contact the Rabbit Board on 07 4661 4076. Landholders who live outside the board area (the blue ringed areas on the map below) should contact us or land protection officers from Biosecurity Qld.

Ways to control rabbits

Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 - Biosecurity Act 2014 - Queensland Legislation - all landholders have a general biosecurity obligation are expected to make a reasonable effort to remove rabbits from their property. The following advice has been provided by the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board to assist all landholders to meet their obligations.

• Warrens – should be destroyed using machinery.
• Burrows – can be fumigated using gas tablets.
• Logpiles – should be removed or burnt under permit.
• Haysheds – can be fenced or netted off with netting dug into the ground.
• Timber floored sheds – can be netted off with netting dug into the ground.
• Shipping containers or assorted materials on the ground – should be raised >40 cm above ground or removed.
• Weeds like lantana – should be sprayed/burnt/removed then any burrows destroyed.
• Rabbits feeding on lawns but coming in from neighbouring properties – cage trapping or Pindone (poison) oats.
• Rabbit entrances - softjaw (rubber jaw) trapping.
• Biological controls (calicivirus and myxomatosis) are naturally occurring diseases that will break out from time to time and reduce rabbit numbers. Landholders should capitalise on any outbreaks by removing harbour so rabbits find it harder to come back.