Important Public Notice – Central Coast Region Rabbit Control Program
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus release April 2015
Please be advised that an ongoing feral rabbit control program will be undertaken in public open spaces in the Central Coast area in 2015. The aim of the program is to reduce feral rabbit numbers and their impacts on the environment. Rabbits are a declared pest species under the Local Land Services Ace 2013. Competition and land degradation by feral rabbits is listed as a key threatening process to threatened Australian native animals, plants and Endangered Ecological Communities under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the NSW threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Rabbits are also causing public nuisance and significant damage to playing fields, public parks and private property in the Central Coast area.
Warning for owners of Domestic Rabbits from Gosford City Council – RHD virus baited carrots will be laid in selected reserves and public open spaces thoughout the Central Coast area during April-May 2015. RHD virus, or Rabbit Haemorrhahgic Disease Virus, is a virus in solution applied to chopped carrots. RHD virus is not harmful to any animals other than rabbits. Pet rabbits can be affected by RHD virus.
To protect pet rabbits they should be vaccinated against the RHD virus – Pet owners should discuss vaccination options with their vets. Alternatively pet rabbits may be housed in a mosquito proof enclosure away from contact with wild rabbits to reduce their likelihood of being exposed to RHD virus.