The following are some frequently asked questions about pest animals. You may be able to find more information about some of these questions from the relevant species page or by searching the database on this site.

Frequently Asked Questions about rabbits

Q. What do rabbits eat?

A. Rabbits require high quality feed; high in water and protein and with less than 40% fibre. When green feed is scarce, they will take fallen seed, grass roots and even the bark of some shrubs. In a drought, rabbits usually die before sheep and cattle because stock can digest plant material with low water, low protein and high fibre content.

Q. Do rabbits and stock compete for food?

A. The diet of rabbits and stock overlap, but stock can survive on a much poorer diet than rabbits. During good to normal seasons, there is probably little competition between stock and rabbits because there is more food than either can eat. For example, in the semi-arid rangelands, studies have shown that there is overlap only when the standing amount of available plant material falls below 250 kg per hectare. This low level of food may occur at very high stocking rates, when rabbit density is very high or in drought. Competition is greatest between sheep and rabbits during and coming out of drought and other than in cropping areas, is the time at which rabbits cause the most damage in the pastoral zone.

Q. How quickly can rabbits reproduce?

A. Under ideal conditions, one pair of rabbits in a protected compound increased to 184 in 18 months, but this is exceptional. Under good conditions in the wild, an adult female can produce up to 40 young a year although the rate across Australia varies between 15 and 40 and depends on the length of the breeding season. Few rabbits survive past their first year, with only between 1 and 10% surviving more than a year. Females can breed at 3 months but do not reach full reproductive potential until 10 months.

Q. Do all rabbits live in warrens?

A. Studies have shown that in some areas, many rabbits are surface dwelling or live in small surface stops. This behaviour is very common in South-west Western Australia and in New Zealand. However, they usually live in warren complexes in most other parts of Australia. Warrens give rabbits protection from heat, cold and predators. Where there is little surface cover, warrens assist rabbits to survive and increase. In these areas, the key to rabbit control is warren destruction.

Q. How far can rabbits move?

A. Rabbits can move up to 20 kilometres, but this is rare. Most movements are a kilometre or less and are from areas of high rabbit density to areas of lower density or from areas producing many young to areas where there are few young. Rabbits from surrounding areas undoubtedly help to build up the population following control, but given their high reproductive potential, rabbits that survive control can quickly rebuild the population.

Q. What is Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD)?

A. RHD is a virus disease specific to rabbits. There is no evidence that it is a risk to humans or other animals. The virus causes rapid development of blood clots in the major organs with death usually in 30-40 hours from heart and respiratory failure. It is considered to be humane. In the rangelands, RHD kills about 85 to 95 percent of susceptible rabbits. It has been of more variable success in the wetter parts of Australia where rabbits are found.

A significant proportion of rabbits less than 8 weeks old become infected with the virus but do not fully develop the disease. The reason for this is not clear but if they survive to adulthood they are immune from RHD for most of their life. They can pass on immunity to their young via their milk but their young soon lose this immunity and become susceptible to RHD.