The Molongolo Catchment Group, in conjunction with South East Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) are running a Rabbit Control Program in the region, assisted by the Landcare Groups at Burra, Captains Flat, Carwoola, Fernleigh Park and Royalla.

Participants interested in taking part in the Rabbit Control Program will need to:

1. Attend a short workshop on assessing rabbit numbers and training in calicivirus baiting techniques, and collect carrots for baiting


2. Conduct rabbit counts in the evenings prior to the control (and again afterwards)


3. Destroy rabbit harbour - warrens and heavy undergrowth such as blackberry thickets


4. Collect carrots inoculated with calicivirus from a central location on Sunday 6th May.

The workshop will be run by Phil McGrath, from the South East LHPA, and will centre on baiting using calicivirus and carrots. Unlike poisons such as Pindone, calicivirus will NOT affect other animals or humans - only rabbits (domestic rabbit owners are urged to have their rabbits vaccinated annually).

The workshop will be held on Sunday 15th April, from 1.00 to 3.00 pm, at Jerrabomberra Creek Rural Fire Service Shed (1722 Old Cooma Road Royalla, 2 km from Monaro Highway towards Queanbeyan). Note that workshops will also be held at Carwoola (Saturday 14th April) [1] and Burra (Saturday 21st April) [2].

Following the workshop, participants will be provided with all material needed at NO COST, thanks to funding provided by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country program.

If you are interested in participating, or would like more information, please contact the Molonglo Catchment Group:

• Email: projects@molonglocatchment.org.au [3]


• Phone: 0422 881 685.

While we would like as many properties as possible to be involved, the funding is limited and therefore numbers are limited. The Molongolo Catchment Group's long term aims through the Rabbit Control Program are to:

• Increase community awareness of the impact of the extensive invasive rabbit population


• Provide community training in techniques to control outbreaks


• Ultimately, reduce the rabbit population, and


• Improve the habitat for native flora and fauna.