How to get rid of Rabbits

If you’re looking for the best way to get rid of rabbits, then this article is for you!

Before we dive in, let me just say, I promise to put aside any bias I have as a contract shooter when talking about the various control methods for getting rid of rabbits. Obviously, shooting is a really great, direct-control method. However, the long and short of it is that a coordinated approach of several methods generally gets the best outcome. With that said, let’s ‘hop’ into it.

What’s the Problem With Rabbits?

Something that’s so cute and fluffy couldn’t possibly be causing major issues, right? Wrong… Despite their cute appearance, rabbits are an absolute wrecking ball when it comes to the destruction of our native environment and impact on our native animals, let alone the impact to peri-urban areas and infrastructure where they like to invade.

The biggest issues they contribute to are:

• Massive overgrazing: Rabbits are eating machines. They nibble vegetation down to the roots, preventing plants from regenerating properly. 
• Competition with Native Wildlife: Rabbits out compete our native herbivores (like bandicoots, bettongs, and wallabies) for food. This also impacts our native animals' chances of breeding pushing them closer to extinction.
• Crop and pasture destruction: Rabbits love our farms and the free feed they provide. In return they dig massive warrens which risk major injury to both livestock and people.
• Supporting other pest species: When rabbits are abundant, they indirectly support other feral animals like foxes and feral cats. Foxes and cats thrive on rabbit populations. More foxes and cats = more predation on native wildlife (especially ground-nesting birds and small mammals).
• Rapid breeding and resistance: Rabbits breed like… well, rabbits. One female can produce 20-30 offspring per year in good conditions. Populations bounce back quickly after control measures like myxomatosis or RHD (rabbit haemorrhagic disease), and Calicivirus. Some rabbit populations have started showing genetic resistance to diseases released to control them.

What are the Pros and Cons of Current Rabbit Control Methods?

Biological Controls

Biological controls basically means releasing viruses like myxomatosis and calicivirus.

Pros:

• Once introduced, it naturally moves through rabbit populations without much human help.
• It can have a dramatic impact when rabbits are in plague proportions.
• Cost-effective. After initial release, it keeps circulating at a low cost.

Cons:

• Decreased effectiveness over time: Rabbits evolved resistance, and the virus itself mutated to become less deadly.
• Infected rabbits can suffer for days before dying, raising animal welfare concerns.
• Not a complete solution. Rabbit numbers bounce back despite ongoing infections.

Overall:

It can be very efficient at scale but not the most humane.

Baiting

Baiting usually involves laying out poisoned food (like carrots or oats treated with chemicals like Pindone or 1080) that rabbits eat, leading to their death.

Pros:

• You can cover large areas if you know where the warrens are.
• Minimal human labour once set up.
• It can reduce rabbit numbers dramatically in a short time.

Cons:

• Non-target species (like native animals or even pets) can accidentally eat the bait.
• Poisoned rabbits might die underground, making it hard to confirm success.
• Some poisons, like 1080, are controversial and tightly regulated.
• You have to deal with a lot of dead rabbits afterwards (if you can find them).
• Time-consuming preparing carrots and oats.

Overall:

It can be efficient but a bit risky for other native animals and pets.

Trapping

Using mechanical traps (like cage traps or spring traps) to physically catch rabbits, either alive or dead.

Pros:

• It’s targeted since you're catching specific animals, not risking other species (especially with cage traps).
• Humane options are available if done properly (live traps where you can decide what to do next).
• Good for smaller infestations or locations where other options like shooting aren’t safe.

Cons:

• Labour-intensive: you have to check traps every day.
• Smart rabbits (and they are clever!) can start avoiding traps.
• Traps can get expensive if you need lots.
• You still need to do something with the rabbit once it is trapped.

Overall:

Good for backyard bunnies, but not ideal for the larger war on rabbits.

Shooting

Pretty self-explanatory - you spot the rabbit, you shoot the rabbit.

Pros:

• You know exactly which rabbit you've dealt with.
• You can cover a lot of ground quickly.
• Zero risk to non-target species.
• Great for varying sizes of populations or clean-up after other control methods.

Cons:

• Requires skill - you need to be a decent shot.
• Not always practical for massive rabbit plagues on their own.
• Some places have restrictions on firearm use (especially near towns or non-rural areas where special licensing is required).
• Night work - best success happens at night when rabbits are active, so you’ll need a good spotlight or thermal scope.

Overall:

Shooting is a great direct control method where results are known immediately. 

What’s the Best Method for Rabbit Control?

Generally speaking, when rabbits are out of control, a combination of the above methods is generally the best approach. Personally, I’m generally against the biological control of rabbits due to it being inhumane. However, that said, when they are in plague proportions and severely affect our native flora and fauna, a combination of biological control and shooting to clean up, is a really effective method of control. I’d rather see the rabbits go than our natives go.

That’s why I really only advocate for biological control when rabbits are totally out of control. Precision shooting is far more humane, and these little critters don’t deserve a draw-out, painful death.
For general control of rabbits in peri-urban environments, shooting is a fantastic option. It is very humane, safe, and effective when done by trained professionals. In rural areas, experienced hunters are also a great option to help with rabbit control.

For the control of rabbits in urban areas, trapping or baiting is generally the most effective option since other control methods, like shooting, simply aren’t safe.

Wrapping Up

Managing rabbit populations in Australia really comes down to applying the best combination of methods for the specific issue at hand. Baiting, trapping, biological control, and shooting all have their pros and cons. Combining these methods as part of an integrated feral pest control plan ensures the most effective and humane outcomes. By taking proactive steps to control rabbits, we can protect public health, preserve infrastructure, and support native ecosystems.

If you have a rabbit issue on your commercial property or place of business, we would very much love the opportunity to help. You can check out our rabbit control service by clicking the button below.

 

Got a rabbit problem? Check out our rabbit control service