DDMRB for Urban Residents
Feral rabbits do untold damage to Australia’s environment. Feral rabbits have already caused the extinction of several small ground-dwelling native Australian animals in arid areas and continue to have devastating effects on other native flora and fauna.
You can assist curbing the disastrous effects of these introduced pests on country by reporting rabbit sightings, not adopting rabbits as pets and keeping an eye out for rabbit signs.
DDMRB for owners of pet rabbits
Pet rabbits are illegal in Queensland. However, pet rabbit owners may not be aware of the laws around keeping rabbits as pets, or may be unaware of the devastating damage rabbits cause to our native flora and fauna.
The maximum penalty for keeping rabbits in Queensland is $66,725.
If you have a pet rabbit:
- Do not release the rabbit into the environment.
- Contact DDMRB (07 4661 4076) to arrange for it to be collected and rehomed interstate
- Return rabbit to breeder if bought interstate.
How you can help DDMRB?
The Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board maintains over 555km of rabbit-proof fence which remains our best defence against rabbit populations establishing.
Each year, DDMRBS's work support:
- Agricultural areas producing over $549 million annually.
- 2,720 properties visited each year on average
- Over 100,000 farms protected within our maintained fence
Urban and semi-urban residents can play their role by handing their pet rabbits over to DDMRB, or reporting sightings of feral rabbits.
Feral rabbits FAQs
Feral rabbits cause irreparable environmental and agricultural damage every year. They compete with native wildlife for food and land. They ringbark trees and shrubs and prevent regeneration by eating seeds and seedlings.
The impact of rabbits often increases during droughts and immediately after a fire, where food is scarce.
Feral rabbits may have already caused the extinction of several small ground-dwelling native mammals and have contributed to the decline in numbers of many native plants and animals.
Feral rabbits cost the agricultural industry between $600 million and $1 billion every year, threatening jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Australians.
Rabbits breed from 3-4 months of age. Rabbits are pregnant for 30 days and give birth to litters of 4 – 7 young.
A mature female rabbit can be continuously pregnant for between 6 – 8 months per year in the right conditions. A single pair of rabbits can produce 30 – 40 young per year.
Maintenance of the rabbit-proof fence, as well as proactive measures by both rural landholders and urban and semi-urban residents to monitor any signs of rabbit populations, are our best preventative measures against rabbit outbreaks.
Rabbits leave tell-tale signs like droppings, dung piles, scratchings in the soil surface and burrows. By identifying these signs early — often in bare areas such as garden beds or sprayed areas like fence lines — you can report your sightings to DDMRB before the problem gets out of hand.
These ‘rabbit signs’ include:
- Fresh scratching
- Dark, fresh droppings – or pills
- A large dung-pile – or ‘buckheap’
Get in contact with DDMRB immediately to arrange for your rabbit’s removal.
In the interim, make sure your rabbit is kept in a protected space where they cannot burrow or escape. A closed space with concrete ground is ideal.
Do not release your rabbit into the environment. This is how feral populations can start.
DDMRB works with a number animal welfare organisations to arrange interstate rehoming for your pet rabbit.
No. You will not be fined for surrendering a pet rabbit.
Fines may be issued for breeding and selling pet rabbits, however, but not for one-off pet rabbit matters.
Get in contact with DDMRB, your local council or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
DDMRB works with a number of animal welfare organisations to rehome your rabbit interstate.
Your rabbit will not be put down.
You can take your pet rabbit to your local vet to be put down. However, this is unnecessary.
By simply getting in contact with DDMRB, we can arrange to come to your property, retrieve the rabbits and pass them on to an animal welfare organisation. They will then rehome your rabbit interstate. Your rabbit will not be put down.