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View our best practice community engagement information hub ‘Community Invasives Action‘ to enhance community involvement in your invasive species management programs
Powered by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
View our best practice community engagement information hub ‘Community Invasives Action‘ to enhance community involvement in your invasive species management programs
Powered by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
The rabbit impact in Australia
Since arriving in Australia with the First Fleet, then deliberately released for hunting in the 1800s, European rabbits have become Australia’s most widespread and destructive environmental and agricultural vertebrate pest.
Their rate of spread is the fastest of any colonising mammal anywhere in the world. They are now found in all States and Territories, including several offshore islands.
Image by Anne Young
Values impacted
Key facts
Original distribution
European rabbits are native to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal), France, Gibraltar and north-western Africa (Morocco & Algeria)1.
Current Australian distribution
The rate of spread of the rabbit in Australia is believed to be the fastest of any colonising mammal in the world1. Domesticated rabbits were first introduced to Australia in 1788. The first feral populations were observed in Tasmania in 1827. Thomas Austin introduced wild rabbits to his property in Geelong, Victoria, for hunting in 1859. By 1886, rabbits had spread north to New South Wales and Queensland. They were in Western Australia and the Northern Territory by 1900. Their colonisation was aided by existing native animal burrows and habitat modification for farming, and by further deliberate human introductions for meat and hunting. The construction of a 1700 km rabbit-proof fence in Western Australia failed to stop the spread of rabbits and they are now found across the continent, and on several offshore islands1.
Biology and ecology
Wild European rabbits typically have grey-brown back fur and a white-grey belly. Colour varies from sandy light brown, to ginger, black, and occasionally, white. Rabbits are characterised by their long ears, long hind legs, short fluffy tail and feet that are well furred beneath, with large straight claws. Males and females are similar in size and appearance; male rabbits may have a slightly broader head. Adults weigh 1–2.25 kg and range in length from 35 to 45 cm1.
Habitat
In Australia, rabbits are widely distributed and occur in a variety of habitats, including urban and coastal areas. They prefer low vegetation, well-drained, deep sandy soils and refuge such as scrub, blackberries or fallen logs1. Rabbits construct large warrens up to 3 m deep and 45 m long. Warren complexes are generally larger in more open country. Warrens provide cover and protection from predators and extreme temperatures, and allow rabbits to live in open grasslands, grazed pasture and arid land. Where there is abundant surface cover, rabbits may live above the ground.
What do feral rabbits eat?
Rabbits are herbivores that eat a wide variety of plants, including crops, roots, pastures, young trees and vines2. They can graze plants to ground level and may eat up to one third of their own body weight daily, although their average daily intake is 100–150 g2. In arid areas rabbits need access to water, but elsewhere they get enough moisture from their food.
Rabbits prefer to eat soft, short, succulent plants such as grasses and herbs.
Reproduction and lifecycle
Females can breed at any time of the year if there is sufficient feed available. The main breeding season is determined by rainfall and the early growth of high-protein plants. During this time, wild rabbits form territorial groups containing 1–3 males and 7–10 females, led by a dominant pair. Wild rabbits can begin breeding at four months old and may produce five or more litters in a year, with up to five young per litter. In less favourable conditions they can still produce one or two litters each year2.
Rabbits have a gestation time of 28–30 days. Young are born blind and hairless and open their eyes after 7–10 days. They emerge from the warren weaned at about 18 days and leave the nest at 23–25 days. Survival of young varies between years and with seasonal conditions and also depends on the incidence of diseases. Wild rabbits rarely survive past six years of age1.
To learn more, find resources and publications about European rabbits in our Plan, Manage or Resources sections
Quick guide to managing rabbits
The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions has produced glovebox guides, planning guides, and field guides for many pest animals. These are useful resource for learning about rabbit management or promoting best practice rabbit information at events and field days.
To enhance your knowledge when creating your pest animal programs visit the Plan, Manage and Improve sections.
Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits
For a quick and easy digest guide to managing rabbits, take a look at the Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits.
Click here to download and print our glovebox guide for free.
Access the Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits |
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RabbitScan allows you to map and monitor European rabbits, record impacts and document where control has been undertaken. It is a free resource for landholders, Landcare groups, community groups, local Councils, professional pest controllers and biosecurity groups.
FeralScan is committed to protecting users’ data, location and information, with all RabbitScan information managed securely and discreetly as described in our privacy policy.
You can access RabbitScan via www.rabbitscan.org.au or download the ‘FeralScan’ App and follow the rabbit prompts.
Want a quick and easy digest of management information for rabbits? Click on the thumbnail image below to download and print our glovebox guide free of charge. Use our order form for larger quantities, which can also feature your organisation’s logo. Please note that printing and postage charges will apply to most orders.
Order Glovebox Guides for Managing Rabbits |
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