26 September 2023

New unit to blast pest rabbits away

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The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has bought a new weapon for use against the State’s pest rabbit population, a problem which is costing farmers up to $200 million a year.

PIRSA said the Warren Blasting Unit was purchased to destroy rabbit warrens in areas that were inaccessible to the normal process of ripping them open.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham said the Unit destroyed rabbit warrens by releasing a precise mixture of gases into the tunnels, which was then ignited by a remote detonation device.

“The resulting high energy blast wave, which instantly travels through the warrens, causes the death of any pest rabbit within it while also collapsing the tunnels, hindering other rabbits from re-establishing at the site,” Mr Basham said.

“There are strict controls in place around use of the unit, particularly to prevent bushfires and to ensure it is operated in a humane fashion,” he said.

Mr Basham said PIRSA officers would demonstrate to farmers how the Unit worked and could be used in combination with other conventional control methods including baiting, warren ripping and fumigation as well as biological controls.

“Rabbits are regarded as agriculture’s most costly pest, estimated to impact agricultural production by $200 million a year and threaten more than 300 plant and animal species,” the Minister said.

“Reports suggest rabbit numbers have been worse this last year due to abundant green feed from good rains and a lack of heat over the last summer.”

Mr Basham said the Eyre Peninsula and Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Boards had purchased Units and landholders were encouraged to contact these boards to discuss their rabbit control program options.

Further information on rabbit control and available control tools can be accessed at this PS News link.

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