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Frequently asked rabbit questions
Managing rabbits: your questions answered.
Here you’ll find answers to common questions about managing rabbits on your property, completing the online pindone training, and the ways the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board can support you in safe and responsible rabbit management.
FAQs: Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu support with managing rabbits
Controlling declared pest animals is the responsibility and cost-burden of the landholder. Our programs provide advice and access to some of the tools to landholders to fulfill this responsibility. We do not offer a trapping service.
Trapping is not one of the rabbit control methods we support. We offer advice on other methods of rabbit control as well as and access to calicivirus and pindone baits. You can read about managing rabbits on your property here. If you do undertake trapping be sure you have a humane destruction method worked out prior, either the ability to shoot the trapped rabbit or have pre-arranged a vet to euthanase the rabbit. Note not all vets will provide this service.
We do not offer a trapping or extermination service for rabbits. Rabbits that appear unwell may be affected by naturally circulating diseases such as Myxomatosis or other calicivirus variants. It’s best to leave them alone, as these diseases help control rabbit populations naturally.
We run control programs at the height of summer when rabbits are naturally lowest in number and more susceptible to heat, and when green feed availability is reduced as the program is more likely to have a long-term effective impact on rabbit populations. Rabbit control on a landscape scale at other times of year is extremely inefficient and rarely effective.
Control of declared animals, including rabbits, is the responsibility of individual landholders. Councils typically manage rabbits on council-owned land through the release of calicivirus. They are generally unable to restrict access to baited areas, so methods like Pindone are not suitable for use on public land where people, pets, and native animals may be present.
For more information on how your council manages rabbit control, contact your local council directly.
FAQs: Rabbit baiting
Pindone carrots are real carrots that have been diced and mixed with a poison registered for control of rabbits in South Australia called Pindone. The carrots are dyed green at the time of mixing. Pindone treated carrots are not sold commercially in South Australia. They are only available from bait distribution days held by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu. They are only available to people at bait distribution days who can demonstrate that they have completed the online training Safe and successful use of pindone for rabbit management.
Pindone carrots are a poison bait, K5 calicivirus carrots have been treated with the rabbit-specific virus called calicivirus. Carrots treated with the K5 variant of the calicivirus are used to pass on the calicivirus to populations of rabbits. Unlike pindone carrots, there is zero risk to off-target species as the virus only affects rabbits. Unlike pindone carrots, you can use calicivirus carrots on properties smaller than 1000 square metres. Please understand that there are many factors that influence the effectiveness of the virus, therefore calicivirus carrots can vary in their success rate from 20 – 80% effective.
This trains rabbits to eat a new food source, helps you estimate how much Pindone bait you’ll need, and lets you check that native animals are not eating the carrots. Trail cameras can be useful for monitoring rabbit activity.
Pre-feeding is an important part of running a safe and responsible baiting program. You can often use cheaper ‘juicing’ or lower grade carrots from fodder stores or fruit and veg shops for this purpose.
Pindone is approved for rabbit control near houses because it has an antidote (Vitamin K1) and rabbits need to eat it several times for it to work. If you think your dog has eaten some Pindone-treated carrots, watch them closely. Eating only a small amount usually causes little harm and most dogs will recover. If your dog becomes drowsy, take them to the vet straight away. Tell the vet that Pindone was used, that it is an anticoagulant poison, and that Vitamin K1 is the antidote.
It’s unlikely that your dog will be harmed from eating a dead rabbit, because most of the poison in Pindone has been broken down once the rabbit has died. Pindone is approved for use near houses because it has an antidote, Vitamin K1.
If you think your dog has eaten a rabbit carcass that may have been poisoned with Pindone, take them to a vet straight away. Tell the vet that Pindone was used, that it is an anticoagulant, and that Vitamin K1 is the antidote.
It’s not recommended to leave Pindone or other rabbit baits unattended. Baits should be placed and monitored carefully to reduce risks to pets, wildlife, and children. For best results, lay baits in the evening along freshly scuffed trails, as rabbits are attracted to disturbed soil. Check the baits early the following morning and dispose of any uneaten carrots by burying them at least 50cm underground. If you cannot be on-site, consider arranging for a trusted person to manage the baiting
No. You can only bait on your land where you can control access.
Yes. It is a legal requirement to display Pindone poison signs at least one day before baiting and to keep them up for four weeks afterward. This helps protect people, pets, and wildlife, and ensures you are complying with the law.
Any rabbit carcasses should be disposed of safely to prevent risks to pets, wildlife, and people. Bury carcasses at least 50cm underground.
FAQs: Online training
Pindone, when used correctly, is a valuable tool for controlling rabbits. Even experienced users need to be aware that incorrect use can have serious consequences for native wildlife and pets. Recorded cases of off-target poisoning can halt control programs and restrict access to bait for everyone.
We are committed to promoting safe, responsible, and effective baiting. Training the community in best-practice use is the most reliable way to achieve this. We strongly encourage anyone choosing to bait rabbits to complete our online training. It’s free, takes less than 30 minutes, and provides the knowledge needed to protect both your property and the wildlife around it.
If you’re having difficulty with the online training, here are some tips:
- Module 1 has 7 questions. Question 5 requires you to select 3 boxes (“check all that apply”).
- Module 2 has 4 questions. Question 4 requires selecting 3 boxes.
- Module 3 has 3 questions. Question 3 requires selecting 3 boxes.
- Module 4 has 5 questions. Questions 1 and 3 require selecting 3 boxes; question 5 requires 4 boxes.
Working with another person on a computer can make it easier.
If you still need help, call 8391 7500 during office hours.
Rabbits are much more likely to select carrots over oats during summer due to the water content of carrots. If rabbits are not eating the oats, there is a much higher chance of oats being eaten by non-target animals, such as kangaroos. We run control programs at the height of summer when there is less green feed available and rabbits are naturally lowest in number and more susceptible to heat, as the program is more likely to have a long-term effective impact on rabbit populations.
Our online training Safe and successful use of pindone for rabbit management includes a section on using pindone oats. We highly recommend that anyone who chooses to bait rabbits do our training.
Information sessions are not compulsory, but they provide a greater understanding of rabbits and how to manage them using a range of techniques.
The online training is mandatory for anyone wishing to purchase pindone carrots from us.
Pindone, when used correctly, is an important tool for controlling rabbits. Even experienced users will find the online training straightforward. Incorrect use, however, can have serious consequences for native wildlife and pets. Recorded cases of off-target deaths can halt control programs and make pindone unavailable to the community.
We are committed to safe, responsible, and humane baiting. Training the community in best-practice use is the best way to support this. We strongly encourage anyone choosing to bait rabbits to complete the training. It’s free, takes less than 30 minutes, and provides the knowledge needed to protect both your property and the wildlife around it.
We no longer have the infrastructure to store pindone carrots at our office, so we cannot supply them from this location. If you are unable to attend your local bait distribution day, you are welcome to register for a different day at another town or at a later round at your preferred location.
Providing carrots through a bait distribution day is a best-practice control measure. Pindone carrots are made to order based on registrations for each distribution day. Coordinating distribution in this way ensures more effective and widespread control of rabbits in the area.
Each baiting season can bring changes to regulations, approved products, and best-practice methods. Completing the training each season ensures you have the latest information to handle baits safely, legally, and responsibly. If you’ve completed the training previously, the refresher is short and shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes. Regular updates help make sure baits are used effectively and responsibly, protecting both people and wildlife.
FAQs: General questions
There are many alternative options for controlling rabbits that don’t include using pindone baits and there are measures you can take to limit access to bait by native animals. Have a look at our rabbit control options video (coming soon). Consider using calicivirus carrots - the have been treated with the rabbit-specific virus calicivirus. Carrots treated with calicivirus are used to pass on the calicivirus to populations of rabbits. Unlike pindone carrots, there is zero risk to off-target species as the virus only affects rabbits. You can also use calicivirus carrots on properties smaller than 1000 square metres. Understand that there are many factors that influence the effectiveness of the virus, therefore calicivirus carrots can vary in their success rate from 20 – 80% effective.
Rabbits can also be excluded from your property with rabbit proof fencing.
Fumigating warrens and then following up with destroying warrens or working with your neighbours to destroy warrens can be very effective. Rabbits will often prefer to take over an abandoned warren rather than digging a new one.
Also consider bait stations, covered bait trails and using a trail camera to limit access to bait and to confirm the animals feeding on your free feed carrots.
There are many alternative options for controlling rabbits that don’t include using pindone baits. Have a look at our website and rabbit control options video (coming soon). Consider using calicivirus carrots - the have been treated with the rabbit-specific virus - calicivirus. Carrots treated with calicivirus are used to pass on the calicivirus to populations of rabbits. Unlike pindone carrots, there is zero risk to off-target species as the virus only affects rabbits. You can also use calicivirus carrots on properties smaller than 1000 square metres. Understand that there are many factors that influence the effectiveness of the virus, therefore calicivirus carrots can vary in its success rate from 20 – 80% effective.
Warrens create uneven ground and hidden holes that may be a risk to horses, Consider ripping the warren and then flattening and smoothing the ground.
If you are unsure of your property size, pindone carrots will not be an option. However, there are several alternative methods for controlling rabbits that do not involve Pindone.
One option is calicivirus-treated carrots. These carrots carry the rabbit-specific calicivirus, which spreads through the rabbit population. Unlike Pindone, there is no risk to native wildlife, pets, or other off-target species, and they can be used on properties smaller than 1000 square metres. Effectiveness can vary depending on factors such as pre-existing immunity in the rabbit population, typically ranging from 20–80%.
Another approach is to exclude rabbits entirely using rabbit-proof fencing, which can provide long-term protection for smaller areas or high-value plantings.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the only organisation in Australia that produces the K5 Calicivirus for sale. The production of K5 requires live rabbits that have not been exposed to the virus before. These rabbits act as an incubator for the virus which is then exacted, processed and made available on order.
Landholders can order vials of the virus direct from DPIRD. The vials can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 months, prior to mixing with carrots. Once the vials are reconstituted with water they should be used immediately for optimum results.
Each vial will produce 10kg of K5 treated carrots. Most properties only need 1-2kg of K5 carrots. If you take this approach it is best to have a cluster of landholders ready to use the K5 carrots immediately.
Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu offer calicivirus treated carrots from bait distribution days. At this time of year there are fewer baby rabbits which are known to be able to develop immunity to the virus.
The effectiveness of calicivirus can be extremely variable 20-80%. Variability is due to any existing tolerances to calicivirus, and seasonal and environmental factors that are out of our control. We always recommend that a landholder engage in multiple methods of rabbit control.