Tackling rabbit control over winter

Winter's colder temperatures aren't just good for the ski fields, they're also helping us get on top of one of the district's most persistent pest problems.

Across the Queenstown Lakes District, QLDC carries out rabbit control year-round on council reserves and public land. While rabbit management is an ongoing effort, winter provides one of the best opportunities to reduce rabbit populations before breeding activity ramps up in spring.

During the colder months, food is scarcer, rabbit populations are more concentrated, and breeding rates are lower. These conditions make control operations more effective and help deliver better long-term results.

Why rabbit control matters

Rabbits can have a significant impact on biodiversity, restoration projects and public reserves.

They browse young plants, damage native vegetation and can prevent newly established restoration sites from flourishing. Large rabbit populations can also slow the regeneration of native ecosystems by repeatedly grazing seedlings before they have a chance to establish.

Recent monitoring at Tucker Beach highlighted another challenge. Rabbits were identified as a frequent source of disturbance to nesting banded dotterel, with one incubating bird regularly having to defend its nest from nearby rabbits. The presence of rabbits can also attract predators into breeding habitat, creating even more pressure for vulnerable native bird species.

What we're doing

QLDC uses a range of rabbit control methods across the district, selected according to the site, rabbit numbers and surrounding environment.

These include:

• Baiting

• Night shooting

• Burrow fumigation

• Targeted use of dogs and ferrets where appropriate

Together, these methods help reduce rabbit numbers and protect native vegetation, community planting projects, recreational reserves and other public spaces.

Rabbit-proof fencing also remains an important tool in many locations, helping protect restoration plantings, sports fields, cemeteries and public reserves from rabbit damage.

How you can help

If you're visiting reserves, parks or public tracks, please leave gates as you find them and make sure they are properly closed behind you. A simple open gate can provide rabbits access to areas that have been carefully protected, undoing months or even years of restoration work.

New: Rabbit control email updates for dog owners

Dog owners can now sign up to receive email notifications about planned rabbit control baiting operations on QLDC-owned land. The service provides advance notice of control work in your area and helps keep dogs safe while operations are underway.

Sign up here by selecting "Dog Owner Email Database"

Learn more

Want to know why rabbits are considered one of the district's most problematic pest species?

Read this edition's Pest Profile: Rapeti (European Rabbit) to learn more about the impacts rabbits have on native plants, wildlife and restoration efforts.

Find out more about QLDC's pest control programmes.