Parks Victoria is celebrating the seventh consecutive year of rabbit control work exceeding targets in Mallee parks.
“Three decades of work to control the impact of rabbits in the semi-arid deserts of North West Victoria is continuing, with a recent survey showing excellent results,” Parks Victoria said.
“Rabbit populations are measured by how many rabbits are seen each kilometre when surveying with a spotlight at night,” it said.
“There is now less than one rabbit per spotlight kilometre over 92 per cent of the parks surveyed.”
“This is the seventh year in a row that the target of one rabbit per spotlight kilometre over 80 per cent of the parks has been exceeded.”
Parks Victoria said the positive figures were the result of it working with Traditional Owners to ensure rabbit numbers were controlled in a way that didn’t impact on the significant cultural heritage of Mallee parks.
“Current work includes baiting, fumigation and mechanical ripping of rabbit warrens in suitable areas,” it said.
It said the control work was part of a larger project known as Mallee Bounceback Rabbits covering 335,000 hectares, including sections of Murray Sunset, Wyperfeld and Hattah-Kulkyne national parks; Hattah and Cowangie state forests; Lake Albacutya Park, and areas of state forest and reserves in the Patchewollock area.
