The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

RABBIT ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS
Occurrence in the Survey Area
Fluctuating populations of rabbits occur in JKCR, though
they are usually present in low numbers. Within JKCR
rabbits prefer grassy areas with some level of
disturbance. Such habitat is typically available adjacent to
infrastructure, picnic areas or management trails. Rabbits
have long been established in this area, and there is little
reason to believe they are expanding in range.
Regional Occurrence
Rabbits are widespread in the region and may reach high
Rabbits. Photo © M. Schulz
numbers in agricultural areas and areas of high fertility
soil (DECC 2007), such as are found adjacent to JKCR.
The Blue Mountains Region pest management strategy
(DEC 2007) lists rabbits as being at low densities within JKCR and most of the Blue Mountains region.
Impacts in the Survey Area
Listed as a KTP under the TSC Act and the EPBC Act. Rabbits can cause significant land
degradation by altering the structure and composition of vegetation communities, removing above and
below ground plant biomass, preventing plant regeneration, ring-barking of trees and shrubs and
digging of burrows, which in turn contribute to soil erosion. Rabbits form the major component of the
diet of cats and foxes in many areas and can maintain populations of these predators at high levels.
Within JKCR, impacts of rabbits are confined to times when numbers are high. Impacts are mostly
indirect, the most important being destabilisation of soil and increased erosion leading to
sedimentation – potentially impacting on Blue Lake and species of frogs, platypus as well as other
aquatic creatures. Sedimentation of the caves can alter hydrology and thus impact on cave-dwelling
bats. Rabbits will also compete for food with the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (NSW Scientific Committee
2002).
Management Considerations
Given the typically low population of rabbits, control measures should be restricted to when
numbers are increasing or high, targeting priority areas.
Priority areas for rabbit control should include areas utilised by the brush-tailed rock-wallaby
population.
Creeklines upstream of the caves should also be a priority for rabbit control. Soil erosion and
slope destabilisation caused by overgrazing and burrowing many increase sedimentation of the
caves and impact on Blue Lake.
Rabbits are best targeted through an integrated
approach using a combination of biological agents
and the use of traditional methods, particularly those
that destroy the warren, such as ripping burrows
(DSEWPaC 2011).
Control of foxes or dogs should include concomitant
control of rabbits which otherwise may increase
sharply in abundance.
The majority of rabbit habitat occurs on private land,
emphasising that collaborative control needs to be
undertaken with adjacent landowners.
The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve 91