Rabbits on Phillip Island: A Growing Concern
The picturesque coastal region of Phillip Island, southeast of Melbourne, is facing an unprecedented rabbit infestation, causing significant damage to homes and gardens. Residents are struggling to cope with the ever-increasing rabbit population, which has reached what locals describe as 'plague proportions'.
Peter Bradley, a resident of the Bass Coast, has made it his daily routine to sweep up displaced mulch and wire and fill holes caused by the rabbits attempting to burrow under his house. This grim task is a shared experience across the region, where the rabbits have become a constant threat.
Harold Jackson, a long-time resident of Phillip Island, has seen the worst of the rabbit problem. The damage to his garden in Cowes, the island's main township, has cost him nearly $20,000. He describes the situation as ongoing, with rabbits constantly digging holes and damaging his roses and roots.
The Bass Coast Shire Council has taken action, voting unanimously to develop a new eradication plan after 15 years and $180,000 spent on professional rabbit control proved ineffective. Rabbit expert Dr. Brian Cooke suggests that the surge in coastal rabbit populations can be attributed to environmental conditions that undermine Australia's biological control program.
Cooke explains that a benign virus, RCV-A1, may be protecting rabbits from calicivirus, Australia's main biological weapon. This virus is more prevalent in coastal areas with high rainfall and year-round green grass, providing cross-immunity to rabbits infected with it. Dr. Tanja Strive, a CSIRO senior principal research scientist, supports this theory, noting that the control of rabbits in coastal areas has always been less effective.
The combination of natural coastal conditions and suburban development on Phillip Island creates an 'upward spiral' for rabbit immunity, according to Strive. The high rainfall and irrigation in peri-urban areas support rabbit breeding and transmission of the benign virus, making them even more immune to calicivirus.
The rabbit explosion has also made daily life dangerous for residents like Carola Adolf, who has lived on her Bass property for 35 years. She narrowly avoided injury when her ride-on mower fell into a hidden rabbit hole, and her horses are at constant risk of broken legs from stepping in holes. The rabbits also pose a threat to fences and trees, undermining the root system.
Tackling the rabbit problem requires cross-government coordination, which has not yet been achieved. Councillor Mat Morgan acknowledges the need for new ideas and collaboration among various land managers, as the current efforts have not been effective.
The rabbit management varies widely among landholders, and community resistance to common strategies like baiting adds complexity. The presence of endangered eastern barred bandicoots on Phillip Island further complicates control efforts, as baiting cannot be used in areas with known bandicoot presence.
Despite the challenges, Morgan believes the region has an opportunity to become a haven for endangered wildlife. Controlling rabbit populations can enhance biodiversity and provide a refuge for various species. However, immediate action is crucial, as eradication efforts should start as soon as possible to avoid a more significant and costly problem in the future.
Dr. Cooke emphasizes the need for urgent action, stating that Australia has lost institutional knowledge about rabbit control due to the success of biological control methods. He warns that the situation will only worsen if left unchecked, and it is better to act now rather than face a more significant problem in the next five years.
