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European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Australia's most costly vertebrate pest. Rabbits strip pasture and native vegetation, prevent tree regeneration and cause serious erosion, including on rehabilitated mine land.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, mammal.

Native to: Europe and North Africa.

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA, NT.

Best time to act: Control in late summer and autumn when numbers are lowest and before breeding.

Identification

  • Grey-brown coat, long ears and a white underside to the tail.
  • Warrens with multiple entrances, diggings, round pellet droppings and grazing lawns.
  • Look-alike: European hares are larger with longer, black-tipped ears and do not dig warrens.

Where it lives

Most of southern and central Australia, especially on light, sandy soils and disturbed land.

Why it matters

  • Overgrazing and erosion.
  • Prevents native plant regeneration.
  • Damages crops, rehabilitation and revegetation.

How it spreads

  • Rapid breeding and dispersal into new habitat, including spoil heaps and stockpiles.

Control methods

  • Warren ripping and destruction, the most effective long-term method.
  • Baiting with 1080 or pindone by authorised persons.
  • Fumigation of warrens, shooting and exclusion fencing.
  • Biological control (myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease) maintains lower numbers.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Protect revegetation with guards or fencing.
  • Avoid creating harbour in rock piles and stockpiles.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): Key threatening process. Listed under the EPBC Act, with a national threat abatement plan for competition and land degradation by rabbits.
  • Queensland: Restricted matter, categories 3, 4, 5, 6. Do not give it away, sell or release it into the environment; do not move it; do not keep it; do not feed it. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Prohibited dealing (wild animals). Wild or feral animals must not be kept, moved or released, other than for lawful pest control. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Established pest animal. Landowners must take all reasonable steps to prevent its spread and, as far as possible, eradicate it on their land.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C3). C3 Management: landholders must manage it to reduce its impact and stop it spreading.
  • Tasmania: Declared pest. It is a declared pest under the Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas). Report sightings to Biosecurity Tasmania and follow any management requirements.
  • Northern Territory: Not a declared pest. Not on an NT declared or prohibited list. Check with the NT Government before keeping, moving or releasing it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Declared pest. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Northern Territory: Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (NT), administered by NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

Sources