General News
23 May, 2025
Rabbit control trial extended to Lake Pertobe
A RABBIT control program will expand into Lake Pertobe after successfully reducing rabbit numbers in council’s holiday parks earlier this year.
As part of a pilot program, professional shooters successfully removed more than 670 rabbits and two foxes over five nights in February and March.
The same method will now be used in Lake Pertobe in May.
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said that shooting had proved to be a highly successful method of quickly reducing rabbit numbers.
“Rabbits are a problem across Australia, and seasonal conditions over the past year have seen their numbers in Warrnambool increase sharply,” he said.
“At our holiday parks, 317 of the rabbits removed were female, which prevented between 6,300 and 15,000 new rabbits being born in the next year alone.
“So there’s the potential to have a significant impact.
“This is still a pilot program, however if the Lake Pertobe operation can be as successful as it was at the holiday parks, this is something we will look at continuing in the future, complementing our existing baiting programs.”
Cr Blain said the contractors were highly trained, would not cause a disturbance to nearby residents and would follow strict safety procedures.
“We will also install signs in Lake Pertobe letting people know about the program,” Cr Blain said.
“It’s very unlikely, but we want to reassure anyone who may happen to see the contractors at work to know that they are undertaking an authorised pest control program.”
Rabbits were first released into the wild in Australia in 1859 near Winchelsea.
The estimated rabbit population in Australia is 200 million.
