REGISTRATION to participate in our Calicivirus K5 Release Program is Required
* New this year, participation in this program will require a ticket/order number obtained through registration. This enables us to better manage and monitor allocation of our limited virus supply across our Operational Area.
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are declared pests of agriculture in Western Australia under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007. As such, landholders are required to control rabbits on their properties. Even landholders not actively using their property are still legally obliged to control rabbits to protect their neighbours’ land from the impact of rabbits.
Calicivirus “K5″releases are part of an integrated approach to optimise control of feral rabbits.
The key to success for effective rabbit control is persistence. “One-off” efforts produce only short-term results as rabbit populations can recover quickly even after successful control programs. Each summer, LBG coordinates targeted Calcivirus RHDV1 K5 releases with participating landholders across our operational area as part of an integrated, long-term approach to rabbit control. Rabbits reproduce rapidly, and while complete eradication is rarely achievable, coordinated action can deliver significant and sustained reductions in rabbit numbers.
Wide landholder participation across communities maximises virus impact and supports more effective follow-up control on individual properties. The more properties involved, the more effective the overall outcome will be.
Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 (“K5” Strain of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus) is species-specific biological control. This virus, used across the country as a biocontrol tool for rabbit management, specifically, and only, affects rabbits. Other species, including pets that ingest infected rabbits, or birds or other wildlife that may ingest virus inoculated oats, or spreading mediums, are not affected by this virus. This virus serves as an effective and helpful tool for suppressing pest rabbit numbers throughout the landscape, reducing the substantial impact pest rabbits have on both agricultural production and the environment, but is NOT a “silver bullet”. The “K5” releases won’t eliminate all rabbits, but do typically significantly reduce rabbit populations, better enabling landholders to implement other rabbit control strategies on their property.
WORKSHOPS – Free Participant Workshops – JOIN US at one of our workshops for an overview of this program, involved processes and tailored guidance to help maximise the effectiveness of your participation in this program. Anyone may attend one of these workshops (registration is NOT required for workshops)
- Monday, 19 January 2026 | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Capel Community Centre, 31 Forrest Rd, Capel WA 6271
- Tuesday, 3 February 2026 | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Dardanup Hall, 19 Ferguson Rd, Dardanup WA 6236
Working together at a landscape scale, across communities, gives this program its greatest strength. The more properties involved, the more effective the overall outcome will be.
PROGRAM PARTICIPATION BASICS
- Registration is required
- Must be landholder or manager for property on which virus will be released
- Must be able to conduct feeding site selection and pre-feeding phase of this program on your property
- Landholders of properties within LBG Operational Area rated by the State for a Declared Pest Rate (DPR) may participate in this program at no additional cost, while virus supply lasts
- Participation for properties not rated by the State for a DPR or outside of the LBG operational area may participate, our virus supply permits, for a fee for virus and related costs
This program is funded by the Declared Pest Rate (DPR). Thank you to our proactive community members who pay their DPR invoice. DPR contributions enable local funding for recognised biosecurity groups and make delivery of coordinated declared pest management programs such as this possible, providing for collective benefits that help reduce pest impacts across communities.
MORE ABOUT THIS VIRUS:
Read more about this virus from the following links: DAFF Rabbit Haemorrhaigic Disease Virus
WA Dept of Agriculture Rabbit Control: RHDV1 K5
Virus Release Process: LBG team members are accredited to mix the virus and inoculate a medium to facilitate targeted virus releases. LBG uses clipped oats for this purpose. The virus will remain active in the oats for a short time after inoculation so planning happens beforehand to pre-arrange collection dates and times for participants to receive their pre-determined quantity of virus inoculated oats on ‘Release Day.
Pet and Domestic Rabbit Owners: A vaccine that protects domestic rabbits against this strain is available and strongly recommended for pet rabbits in the release region. It is important however to clarify that other strains not protected by the vaccine can also be present in the region. Information for Owners of PET & DOMESTIC rabbits
Integration of Multiple Control Methods Achieves Greater Results
The Leschenault Biosecurity Group can assist you in developing long-term rabbit control strategy using variety of control methods and tools that best suit your property-specific needs.
The most effective outcomes are achieved through an integrated, property-specific approach, combining appropriate control methods and well-timed actions. Property-specific strategies may include targeted Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 releases, strategic exclusion fencing and tree protection, warren ripping and other harbourage reduction, such as cleaning rubble and wood piles that may be used as refuge and more.
strategy for rabbit control using variety of control methods and tools.
The Leschenault Biosecurity Group can assist landholders with:
• Control advice specific to your property
• Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 releases during our annual summer program
• Loan of surveillance cameras, traps and smokers for investigations of warrens and burrows
Contact us to discuss rabbit control strategies that are best for YOU & YOUR property, including:
• Biological Control _ Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 Release Program (conducted during summer months)
• Harbourage reduction
• Exclusion fencing
• Warren ripping
• Baiting* and trapping
• Other as may be applicable to your property
* Before commencing any baiting program, be aware of risks to native and other off-target species and strictly adhere to guidance specific to each product. For information on bait, poison and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA relevant to rabbits, please visit the following link: DPIRD_Rabbit control
CONTACT US: e-mail info@lbginc.org.au | phone: 0477 049 967