Otago Regional Council (ORC) is ramping up its rabbit management efforts with more community support.

The regional council recently dedicated more staff to help deliver initiatives like community programmes to help groups with monitoring and education and provide additional assistance for smaller property owners.

ORC environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell said rabbit control is a “wicked problem”.

“We know there’s areas in Central Otago with very high rabbit populations, so we’re working with these communities to get a reduction in numbers,” she said.

Landowners and occupiers are responsible for controlling rabbit populations on private property but the ORC is keen to offer more support.

While some of the larger landholders are “very much on top” of their rabbit control, this is being countered where rabbits are not declining, such as in some new lifestyle blocks, subdivisions and peri-urban areas.

“For some landowners, particularly those on smaller holdings, rabbits are still very much a big challenge,” Libby said.

“We’ve increased the staff resource in the wider team which includes dedicating two staff positions to managing the community-led rabbit programmes.

ORC environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell said while gains were being made on larger, rural properties, rabbit management was increasingly challenging in urban and peri-urban areas.

“Our biosecurity officers will undertake inspections and provide suggestions for good practice rabbit management to land occupiers.”

While tailored advice will be provided to landowners, Libby said a common strategic approach was to use a ‘primary knock down poison’ followed with secondary controls like shooting, fumigation and burrow destruction, and installation of rabbit fencing.

Under the council’s Rabbit Action Plan, it also uses thermal imaging, night count monitoring, fly trap monitoring, and research and trials to help manage rabbits.

Densities of up to 16 rabbits per square kilometre have been logged in some places during ORC night-count monitoring.

Libby applauded the efforts of community members and groups including two in the Upper Clutha - one in Queensbury and another around Black Peak Road in Wānaka - who are “working really well together” to achieve long term management of rabbits.

The ORC considers European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) one of Otago’s worst pests. 

Its long-term target is sustained control of rabbit populations, Libby said.

“There’s no quick fix here, but rabbit numbers can be reduced and maintained at manageable levels; likely with a minimal impact on the environment.”

Struggling with rabbit control? Visit the ORC Pest Hub here or contact a ORC Biosecurity officer at [email protected]. 

PHOTOS: Supplied