In regards to rabbit control you have several options that can be completed by Central Coast Deer and Vermin Control.

• Pindone Baiting
• Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) New Korean strain 2017 release
• Concussion
• Fumigation
• Shooting

Taking no action at all in the hope that we might one day find a more humane solution is unacceptable(Cooke D. Brian 2014).

Pindone Baiting: Carrots

Although poisoning programs can be carried out year-round, baiting is most effective when alternative food for rabbits is scarce.

Benefits:

• 70% to 90% of rabbits exterminated and will typically die within burrows
• Warrens don’t need to be accessible and all rabbits surface or burrow will be effected

Drawbacks:

• Can only be completed in dry weather or intermittent (require a dry night/day every 3 to 5 days

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) Release

Central Coast Deer and Vermin Control was the only company to release the NEW RHDV-K5 Korean Strain on the Central Coast NSW for the Department of Primary Industries Biosecurity NSW in 2017.

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a viral disease which affects only European rabbits. 3 to 4 trenches (30mm deep) totalling 500 metres in length need to be cut then two free feeds of carrots are distributed in trenches and one RHDV covered carrots.

Benefits:

• RHDV infects many organs including the lungs, gut and liver of the rabbit. The latter causes acute hepatitis that can kill the rabbit within 48 hours by precipitating a rapid and widespread blood clotting mechanism
• (50% guaranteed) to 90% of rabbits exterminated and will typically die within burrows
• Warrens don’t need to be accessible
• No warning signs or notification required
• All rabbits surface or burrow rabbits will be effected

Drawbacks:

• Whether RHDV is effective depends on age. Rabbits less than three weeks old are not affected and only 60% of rabbits between three to six weeks old are affected

Does RHDV affect humans? This was considered in great detail by the government and health authorities from the outset. A major study was conducted in which blood from 259 people exposed to RHDV-infected rabbits was tested. There was no evidence of infection. International laboratories in many different countries confirm that human infection with rabbit calicivirus is not known to occur and that no ill effects have been seen, even in people working very closely with the virus.

The virus has been present in more than 40 countries round the world, including most of Europe, since the 1980s, and there have been no scientific or medical reports of human infection from any of these
countries.

Are other animals affected by RHDV? There is no scientific evidence, here or overseas, that RHDV infects other animals. Australia has tested for RHDV virus in at least 33 representative animal species, domesticated and wild, native and feral. They were all given large doses of the virus and there was no sign of infection. Worldwide 43 different species have been tested and the virus did not grow in any of them.

Is it safe to eat rabbits infected with RHDV? One should never eat a sick animal, as it is difficult to identify what it has suffered from, quite apart from considerations of taste. Nevertheless, if an animal infected with RHDV was killed and eaten prior to there being any signs of sickness, the virus would have no effect on humans.

Is a vaccine available for domestic rabbits? Yes. Effective vaccines to protect rabbits from RHDV have been developed in Europe and are applied through local veterinary clinics. The vaccine released in Australia is known commercially as Cylap HVD and is made in Spain by Cyanamid. Pet rabbit owners should consult their local vet about vaccination.

Concussion

At Central Coast Deer and Vermin Control we like to use a smoke identification unit first then Rodenate (concussion) of rabbits.

The Rodenator can be viewed further at www.rodenator.com

Smoking to find the burrows: concussive force generated by the Oxygen-LPG detonation is a sufficient to give humane control of rabbits and collapse the majority of a warren, this collapse varies depending on soil type, warren depth and amount of oxygen used.

Benefits:

• 90% of rabbits destroyed within burrows
• Can be completed in dry or wet weathers
• Warren destruction prevents further rabbits from taking up residence
• Pests killed from the Rodenator’s Concussive Force Process, die from the overwhelming pressure within the tunnel system. The animals are instantly crushed. They are not burned, asphyxiated, or chased away; they are instantly killed without the use of chemicals or poisons

Drawbacks:

• Warrens need to be accessible
• Noise

Fumigation

At Central Coast Deer and Vermin Control we like to use a smoke identification unit first then fumigate rabbits.

Smoking to find the burrows: fumigation can be successfully used after or with other methods of control, treating small isolated populations.

Treated burrows should be inspected after about six days and re-treated if rabbits have opened them.

Benefits:

• 90% of rabbits destroyed within burrows

Drawbacks:

• Warrens need to be accessible
• Can only be completed in dry weather/li>
• Only rabbits which live in burrows can be controlled; surface living rabbits are unaffected.

Shooting

Shooting would be carried out between the hours of midnight and 500am unless otherwise requested.

Rifles are equipped with suppressors, digital night vision, recorders.

Benefits:

• 70% to 90% of rabbits exterminated and removed
• Warrens don’t need to be accessible
• All rabbits surface or burrow rabbits will be effected
• Silenced and Night vision equipped rifle with video recorder

Drawbacks:

• Rabbits need to be sighted

Contact us or call Lawrence at Central Coast Deer and Vermin Control now for your no obligation, free quote.

View Rabbit Control Information Sheet: 

Rabbit-Control (223 KB)

Central Coast Deer and Vermin Control has Pest Controllers Combined Liability of $20,000,000, and is licensed to shoot in council, crown, rural and non-rural (residential, golf courses, commercial, tourism, school and recreation) areas and certified/licensed to net, bait, trap, fumigate and concussion.

Department of Primary Industries NSW Game Hunting Licence(Professional) P17048

Office of Environment & Heritage NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service Authorised Magpie and Butcher bird humane removals MWL000101928.