A SMALL community in western Victoria is making a big difference to their rabbit pest problem.
The Barrabool Hills Landcare Group began coordinating a rabbit baiting program four years ago.
- AT A GLANCE
- Who: Lorraine Wheeler
- What: rabbit control
- Where: Geelong, Victoria
- Report: CIMARA PEARCE
In 2007 five people signed up to the program.
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This year, more than 100 locals put in orders and so far about 4.7 tonnes of baited carrots have been laid in the area, west of Geelong.
The program's facilitator, Lorraine Wheeler, said it had been a huge success.
"Everyone seems very happy with it and we're actually doubling our numbers (of participants) each year, which indicates that the word is spreading," Lorraine said.
"The great thing about it is that one person can't do a lot on their property to get rid of rabbits, but when a whole neighbourhood gets together and does a program like this it just makes a huge difference."
The chopped carrots, which are laced with pindone, are laid out of an evening, where rabbits are known to feed. The poison is cumulative and is laid out three times over a two-week period at the end of summer.
Lorraine said the carrots were coloured green to make them less appealing to birds and farmers were instructed to bury left-over bait and any rabbits that were found dead.
The latest program commenced at the end of last month and was completed last week.
"Already I've been getting phone calls from people saying they are seeing blow flies coming from burrows," Lorraine said. "People seem to be very, very happy. The bait was all taken and everyone's been happy."
She said the Landcare group would meet soon to discuss ways to ensure the program's ongoing success.
"We know that baiting alone will not get rid of all the rabbits, we just know that it's one very effective means of controlling them," she said.
"It (the program) really gives us a big reduction in rabbit numbers."
