Luke
29-07-06, 10:31 AM
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Oryctolagus cuninulus
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Life cycle
Rabbits are one of Australia’s major agricultural and environmental animal pests costing between $600 million and $1 billion annually. They compete with native animals, destroy the landscape and are a primary cause of soil erosions by preventing regeneration of native vegetation.
Rabbits have played a role in the reduced numbers and extinction of many native animals by competing for food and burrow space. In drought times rabbits climb trees to forage in the foliage often ringbark trees in their search for moisture.
Rabbits affect the quantity and quality of pasture available for other animals. Nutritious plants are selectively grazed, and in times of drought rabbits can consume the majority of the vegetation available. It is documents that the grazing ability of seven to ten rabbits is equivalent to one sheep.
Rabbit grazing and burrowing reduces vegetation and leads to soil erosion. The exposed bare soil is washed or blown away making areas less productive. Soil that is washed away then builds up and causes increased silting of aquatic ecosystems.
Pet Rabbits
The introduction o Queensland and selling of rabbits is not permitted (maximum penalty $30000). Limited numbers of permits for educational or research purposes only are available from the Department of Natural Resources. Before a permit is granted a number of guide-lines need to be fulfilled. Information on permits is available by ringing (07) 3406 2870
Spread
Domestic rabbits were first brought to Australia with the first fleet. The first feral populations reported were in southern Tasmania in 1827. Twenty – four wild rabbits were released on mainland by Thomas Austin of “Barwon Park” Victoria, in 1859. Rabbits spread rapidly from “Barwon Park” and another release centre near Adelaide (Kapunda) at rates of up to 100 kilometres a year.
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Rabbits were first reported in south-western Queensland in the 1880’s and their spread was assisted by humans as much as by natural migration. Queensland reacted to the advancing wave of rabbits by introducing the Rabbit Nuisance Bill of 1878 and Act in 1880. Unfortunately tenders for the construction of a rabbit proof fence were not passes until 1886, by which time rabbits were scattered from Wompah in the west to Mungindi in the east.
Rabbits have now spread to most areas throughout Queensland. High populations are found in the Granite Belt, south-western Darling Down, Maranoa, southern Warrego and the far south-west. Moderate populations are located in the north-western Darling Downs and North Burnett, with low population in the remainder of the state.
Breeding
Rabbits in lid environments are territorial throughout the year, but increase their social aggression during the breeding season. During the breeding season rabbits live in communities with well-defined social hierarchies or ‘pecking orders’. Community boundaries are marked with faeces or by exudate from glands located under the chin.
The dominant buck (male) mates with most does (females) within his territory but dominant does can prevent breeding in subordinate does. In drier areas, the harsh conditions make finding food more important and reduce the strict territorial behaviour of rabbits.
The rabbit pregnancy period is 28 -30 days, with the doe able to mate within hours of giving birth. The average litter is 3-4 kittens, but varies from two in a young doe, up to eight of more in a mature doe, depending on the amount and quality of food available. Young does can breed at four months of age if conditions are suitable.
Five to six litters are possible in a good season. This equates to 2100 young per doe per year. the litters produced are associated with the length of time young grass is present. In summer rainfall areas with high temperatures, fewer young are a result of less fertile males and poor pasture qualities.
Habitat
Rabbits live in a number of situation such as:
fallen timber
tussock grass and
warrens if the soils are easy to dig.
Control methods
An integrated control approach should be adopted, incorporating appropriate strategies from those listed below. It is important landholders understand that biological control agents such as Myxomatosis and Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) are not the sole answer to the rabbit problem. It is essential they are incorporated into a management strategy with other control techniques.
Rabbit Calicivirus Disease offers landholders a major opportunity to reduce rabbit numbers. Failure to combine RCD with other control strategies could cause rabbit immunity to develop as occurred with myxomatosis. RCD must be incorporated into a management strategy to prevent rabbits becoming immune to the disease with over use.
Conventional control methods such as baiting, fumigating and ripping warrens are essential for the continued long term reduction of rabbit numbers.
Rabbit control techniques include:
Myxomatosis
Rabbit Calicivirus Disease
Baiting with 1080
Baiting with pindone
Fumigation
Shooting
Trapping
Rabbit proof fencing
Warren destruction
Clearing surface cover
Oryctolagus cuninulus
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/griffo79/ferfiles-rabbit.jpg
Life cycle
Rabbits are one of Australia’s major agricultural and environmental animal pests costing between $600 million and $1 billion annually. They compete with native animals, destroy the landscape and are a primary cause of soil erosions by preventing regeneration of native vegetation.
Rabbits have played a role in the reduced numbers and extinction of many native animals by competing for food and burrow space. In drought times rabbits climb trees to forage in the foliage often ringbark trees in their search for moisture.
Rabbits affect the quantity and quality of pasture available for other animals. Nutritious plants are selectively grazed, and in times of drought rabbits can consume the majority of the vegetation available. It is documents that the grazing ability of seven to ten rabbits is equivalent to one sheep.
Rabbit grazing and burrowing reduces vegetation and leads to soil erosion. The exposed bare soil is washed or blown away making areas less productive. Soil that is washed away then builds up and causes increased silting of aquatic ecosystems.
Pet Rabbits
The introduction o Queensland and selling of rabbits is not permitted (maximum penalty $30000). Limited numbers of permits for educational or research purposes only are available from the Department of Natural Resources. Before a permit is granted a number of guide-lines need to be fulfilled. Information on permits is available by ringing (07) 3406 2870
Spread
Domestic rabbits were first brought to Australia with the first fleet. The first feral populations reported were in southern Tasmania in 1827. Twenty – four wild rabbits were released on mainland by Thomas Austin of “Barwon Park” Victoria, in 1859. Rabbits spread rapidly from “Barwon Park” and another release centre near Adelaide (Kapunda) at rates of up to 100 kilometres a year.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/griffo79/ferfiles-rabdistrib.jpg
Rabbits were first reported in south-western Queensland in the 1880’s and their spread was assisted by humans as much as by natural migration. Queensland reacted to the advancing wave of rabbits by introducing the Rabbit Nuisance Bill of 1878 and Act in 1880. Unfortunately tenders for the construction of a rabbit proof fence were not passes until 1886, by which time rabbits were scattered from Wompah in the west to Mungindi in the east.
Rabbits have now spread to most areas throughout Queensland. High populations are found in the Granite Belt, south-western Darling Down, Maranoa, southern Warrego and the far south-west. Moderate populations are located in the north-western Darling Downs and North Burnett, with low population in the remainder of the state.
Breeding
Rabbits in lid environments are territorial throughout the year, but increase their social aggression during the breeding season. During the breeding season rabbits live in communities with well-defined social hierarchies or ‘pecking orders’. Community boundaries are marked with faeces or by exudate from glands located under the chin.
The dominant buck (male) mates with most does (females) within his territory but dominant does can prevent breeding in subordinate does. In drier areas, the harsh conditions make finding food more important and reduce the strict territorial behaviour of rabbits.
The rabbit pregnancy period is 28 -30 days, with the doe able to mate within hours of giving birth. The average litter is 3-4 kittens, but varies from two in a young doe, up to eight of more in a mature doe, depending on the amount and quality of food available. Young does can breed at four months of age if conditions are suitable.
Five to six litters are possible in a good season. This equates to 2100 young per doe per year. the litters produced are associated with the length of time young grass is present. In summer rainfall areas with high temperatures, fewer young are a result of less fertile males and poor pasture qualities.
Habitat
Rabbits live in a number of situation such as:
fallen timber
tussock grass and
warrens if the soils are easy to dig.
Control methods
An integrated control approach should be adopted, incorporating appropriate strategies from those listed below. It is important landholders understand that biological control agents such as Myxomatosis and Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) are not the sole answer to the rabbit problem. It is essential they are incorporated into a management strategy with other control techniques.
Rabbit Calicivirus Disease offers landholders a major opportunity to reduce rabbit numbers. Failure to combine RCD with other control strategies could cause rabbit immunity to develop as occurred with myxomatosis. RCD must be incorporated into a management strategy to prevent rabbits becoming immune to the disease with over use.
Conventional control methods such as baiting, fumigating and ripping warrens are essential for the continued long term reduction of rabbit numbers.
Rabbit control techniques include:
Myxomatosis
Rabbit Calicivirus Disease
Baiting with 1080
Baiting with pindone
Fumigation
Shooting
Trapping
Rabbit proof fencing
Warren destruction
Clearing surface cover