Does no-one think that there should be a humane way of dealing with this problem? So far, we have Belly with his extensive experience of trapping rabbits - what with, Belly? Steel jawed traps? And everyone else apparently believing that dogs tearing them to bits is okay.

Like most "pest" animals, it seems that any means of control/eradication, no matter how cruel, is just fine, regardless of the fact that these animals are there because of human neglect/negligence/ignorance/irresponsibility. Some animals are much more "equal" than others.

Myxomatosis, and other deliberately introduced diseases were/are shockingly cruel, as is gassing burrows, too. But what the hell. They're only rabbits.

Nicky

Welcome Nicky, lets get this clear, you are one of the few animal rights people I can get along with.
Sure we rarely agree but we do at times.
I share a few of your ideas.
And that warning for flaming you , the one you are unaware of was wrong, it was a wasted effort to swipe back at another poster.
Lets get back to the steel jawed rabbit traps.
Are you aware the ban came about because one idiot set one in a Sydney suburb a very long time ago to catch a cat?
And that lady, just one started the campaign that ended with the ban.
300 years ago we would have harvested our rabbit diner with a spear or bow and arrow.
Maybe a snare, one that kept the rabbit from moving until maybe days later the trapper came, some steel jawed victim waited too.
So Nicky how do we remove them?
Be honest are the natives more valuable than rabbits?
Do we shoot them? head shots gut shots 100.000 of them rough country we are not going to get every one in one shot.
Do we gas them? killing every thing the dogs put in the borrows?
I grew up hungry Nick we had meat only if we trapped rabbits, would it be any different for battlers in the bush today?
Ah the answer may be setting ferrets on them.
Ever felt the heart beat of a rabbit caught in the net as a ferret hurls its self on it?
Yet we must use ferrits or shoot them we are baned from useing traps
Do we let the rabbits live or save the wild life give me your view of how we do it and what we do.

Hi Belly
Thanks for that. You and I at least, when we disagree, do it politely and with respect for each others' views. I'm still a bit mystified about the flaming bit, but I suppose it will be made clear somewhere down the line.

I really wish I knew what the solution was to this, but I do know that it should be humane. If I were pushed tor an answer, I guess I would favour trained shooters with high-powered rifles. Steel jawed traps are evil devices, and rightly banned. A friend had a cat who was caught in one recently - and the cat had to have its leg amputated at the shoulder. No charges have been laid, although the trap was reported to have been set to catch a dog by some kids. "Not responsible", claim the authorities.

It's also a tough question about what animals are more "valuable" than others. I guess I think that all animals are here for their own reasons and intrinsic value, but I recognise that I'm in a minority there!

Cheers
Nicky

Pest eradication in Australia has been a dismal failure.

Rabbits have grown increasingly resistant to the Myxomatosis and Calicivirus diseases.

The Calicivirus is known to be excruciatingly painful, causing rabbits to scream and cry through their last minutes of life. Experts are convinced that this virus is not target specific and will jump species.

Dana Krempels, Ph.D lecturerer at the University of Miami on Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics and Ecology claimed she “personally knows a veterinarian who was studying in Australia, when the calicivirus was released to control the feral rabbit population.

"She reported that there have been confirmed cases of dead predatory birds that may have scavenged dead rabbit carcasses or caught live rabbits. She advised the bird tissues tested positive for the VHD virus, but that the Australian authorities are keeping the situation very hushed up for fear of a panic outbreak.”

Australian “experts” have also permitted the extremely cruel use of chloropicrin and phosphine as fumigants. Both these warren fumigants are hazardous to humans.

Recently, sixty residents of Salinas, California were poisoned when the fumigant chloropicrin drifted from strawberry fields a quarter of a mile away.

However, it appears that currently Australia’s rabbit “eradicators” and grain growers favour the use of phospine (aluminium phosphide) as a fumigant which is classified as a hazardous substance and listed under “dangerous goods. “

Warren fumigants are known to kill off goannas, snakes and other reptilian wildlife.

Fencing in my opinion, simply creates zoos which actually increase rabbit populations.

Sadly, CSIRO have abandoned their sterilisation research into the control of exotic “pests.” It has been proven that in the long term, humane sterilisation programmes are the most effective control method.

However, as is typical in Australia, stakeholders remain convinced that crops raised for human consumption and for consumption by the eco-destructive, exotic species of sheep and cattle must be protected by the "bomb and destroy" methods proven to be ethically, ecologically, biologically and economically disastrous.

These strategies have resulted in a return of rabbit numbers to the extent of 200-300 million.

So which species is the bunny?

Worth noting however these rabbits have thrived because of isolation on an Island.
And mexo is far from nice, I have no idea about the latest killer jumping species or killing in pain.
But mexo blinds first, after a while you just have to wonder about dozens of blind rabbits killed on the road.
Yes pain and suffering but is there any alternative?
Penguins live and breed on the Island chances are mutton birds too the rabbits have to go.

The Australian Government funded an intensive trapping programme, undertaken by the Tasmanian Government between 1997 and 2001, to eradicate cats from the island once and for all. Between 1974 and 2000, a total of 2450 cats were caught on the island.

The programme has been deemed a "success," and no cats have been seen on Macquarie Island since June 2000. (DEH)

Behold, the resurrections - plagues of the European rabbit, the black rat and the house mouse.

The Department of Environment and Heritage state that for many years, rabbit numbers have been kept relatively low by ripping warrens and releasing the virus that causes myxomatosis.

Perhaps this department should have given more credit to the cat for the control of the rabbits, mice and rats on the island?

The department has also advised that mice have been videoed eating seabird chicks (though not witnessed on the island.)

Rabbits, resistant to the 1080 bait, must now be fed three times the amount to take effect.

Apparently a joint Australian-Tasmanian government eradication plan programme was to move up a gear this year, by locking in many of the key parts underpinning the baiting run expected in 2009 or 2010 and mop up operation, such as training specialist rabbit tracker dogs as well as eradicating the rats and mice.

2009 or 2010?

The immuno-contraception has been proffered for decades yet research has ceased and it seems the poisoning of Australia will continue for perpetuity.

In the meantime, eradication programmes in Australia now cost the taxpayer $1 billion per year and I predict that with the onset of climate change, these costs will increase - the survival of the fittest!

The eradication programmes will continue whilst our Masters (collectively imbued with the mentality of a used car salesman) encourage the invasion of other aliens - the homo-sapien from other lands (about 300,000 this year) who together with the "locals" will bomb and destroy native habitats, wildlife, threatened plant species and ecological communities to obtain comfortable accommodation with impunity.

Ah....those pesky ferals!