BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR RABBITS!

You might think rabbits are something that only farmers need to worry about, so it could come as a surprise to know just how close to the city they are!

The Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board (DDMRB) is urging residents between Toowoomba and Highfields to report rabbit sightings.

DDMRB Chair, Cr Janice Holstein (Lockyer Valley Regional Council) said, “Rabbits cause significant damage to agriculture, the natural environment and to property by undermining infrastructure and destroying gardens”.

“The DDMRB maintains the 555km rabbit fence that runs from Goombi (north west of Chinchilla) to Mt Gipps (near Rathdowney), as well as working with landholders and Councils to prevent rabbits from becoming established in our 28,000km2 operational area, which is home to much of Queensland’s most productive agricultural land and unique ecosystems”.

DDMRB Director and Toowoomba Regional Councillor Tim McMahon recently inspected rabbit control works undertaken adjacent to the new bike path to Highfields.

“A number of rabbit warrens were recently identified and removed just near the Toowoomba Christian College, which is quite close to the city” Cr McMahon said.

“I often hear people say that rabbits are everywhere around Toowoomba, but a lot of the time they will actually see hares and mistake them for rabbits. It’s important to know the difference between the two” he said.

Like rabbits, hares are introduced animals but do not pose the same impacts as rabbits. They do not burrow, nor do they have the breeding capacity of rabbits. Hares are not declared pest animals in Queensland, whereas rabbits are declared and landowners must take steps to control them on their land.

Cr Holstein said, “We urge people to report rabbit sightings in the DDMRB area to us, either by phone, social media or via our web site. Our compliance staff are on hand to visit properties and provide assistance with advice on the most effective control methods to suit the situation”.