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Rabbit
- Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
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- Rabbit warrens can be monitored for activity
General information
Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are one of Australia´s major agricultural and environmental animal pests costing between $600 million and $1 billion annually.
Rabbits compete with native animals, destroy the landscape and are a primary cause of soil erosion - preventing regeneration of native vegetation.
All varieties of rabbit including domestic breeds are Class 2 declared animals under Queensland legislation. It is the responsibility of landholders to control rabbits on their land.
| Scientific name |
Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Impacts |
- competes with native animals for food and burrow space
- grazing and burrowing leads to soil erosion and silting of aquatic ecosystems
- may ringbark trees in search of moisture during times of drought
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| Description |
- usually grey-brown with a pale belly; black or ginger can also be common
- has long hind legs and short front legs
- has long ears and large eyes
- usually weighing about 1.3-2.3 kg
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| Habitat and life cycle |
- live in warrens where soil is easy to dig, tussock grasses and areas littered with fallen timber
- found throughout Australia
- does (female rabbits) can have up to 5-6 litters in a good breeding season producing an average of 3-4 kittens
- litters of up to eight kittens are possible for older does depending on food quantity and quality
- gestation period is between 28-30 days
- breeding can commence from four months
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| Control |
- different control methods including destroying rabbit warrens, baiting, rabbit-proof fencing, fumigation, trapping and shooting with land management practices are most effective
- biological control such as Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD)
- see the rabbit fact sheet and the rabbit control manual for further information
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| Declaration details |
- a declared Class 2 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
- landholders are required to control declared pests on their land
- it is an offence to keep a rabbit of any variety as a pet
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| Further information |
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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last reviewed 22 April 2009
