Rabbit Control: We’re all in this together; lending a hand to neighbouring area
Responding to the significant outreach from landholders for assistance in tackling rabbit populations, GeoCatch reached out to LBG to discuss what, if any support we might be able to provide. After confirming that this year we should have access to enough virus supply to meet the demands within our own operational area, we agreed to support a pilot program with GeoCatch for a limited number of landholders. LBG is pleased to support GeoCatch and the involved landholders in this initiative. Addressing pests across tenure, across communities, across regions is a win-win for everyone.
Understanding the Role of RBGs: As we all know, pests don’t stop at fences, or geographical boundaries. However, WAs fourteen Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBG) operate within in specific areas, with funding supported by landholders subject to a declared pest rate. These collected funds, matched dollar-for-dollar by the state, are then distributed to the RBG operating in the area in which the funds are collected for use in supporting and promoting the management of declared pest designated as a priority in that specific area. This is the State’s current model for supporting declared pest management on private property. Service or resources provided outside of our Operational Area can only be done for a fee or with grant funding independent of the Declared Pest Rate collected within our operational area.
As an RBG, the Leschenault Biosecurity Group, is proud of the collaborative pest management initiatives we are able to achieve with landholders and the local shires within our Operational Area. We appreciate the support and advocacy of the many landholders who promote and/or use our resources to encourage, facilitate and implement proactive and on-going best practices in the on-going challenge to protect our area from the impact of established declared pests and emerging threats to our biosecurity.
LBG Receives Many Requests for Support for Pest Management Outside of Our Operational Area
While there are RBGs across most of the State, there are some gaps, most notably in the Southwest and metro area. As such our group frequently receives requests from both private and public land managers outside of our area to participate in our programs, hire our equipment or just for pest management guidance. At LBG we firmly believe that “we’re all in this together” and in that spirit endeavour to provide the most beneficial responses we can to out of operational area queries; however, this is typically limited to minimal guidance or referral if applicable to their need.
Our annual Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Release program elicits numerous requests for participation from individuals from outside of the LBG Operational Area, even from LGAs. We do try to support these requests with guidance, referral and when possible, supply of Calicivirus “K5” for a fee, if, and only if, we have access to sufficient quantity of the virus to support the demands of landholders within our own Operational Area. In 2024, we were unable to obtain enough of this virus to support any request outside of our operational area. This year, we are happy that we have been able to allow participation in our February releases by some out of area landholders (for a fee). For the past several years we have had several concerned landholders from the Geographe Catchment area contact us annually for this purpose. We have helped out when we could but have often had to turn them away due to our virus supply and/or other capacity limitations. We are pleased to be able to collaborate with GeoCatch on their pilot rabbit control program initiative this year!
Find out more about LBG’s Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Release Program at: www.lbginc.org.au/pest-info/european-rabbit-oryctolagus-cuniculus/2025_lbgcalicivirusrhdv1-k5releaseprogram5-releases-program/
Find out more about GeoCatch at: www.geocatch.asn.au
Find out more about Recognised Biosecurity Groups at: www.agric.wa.gov.au/bam/recognised-biosecurity-groups-0
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