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. Community-wide participation helps maximise the impact of the virus and supports follow-up control efforts on individual properties.

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.

Register & Obtain Ticket* Now – If you’re planning to participate in this program, we encourage you to register early to assist with planning and allocation of our limited virus supply.  * New this year, participation in this program will require a ticket obtained through registration. This enables us to better manage and monitor allocation of our limited virus supply across our Operational Area.

Free Participant Workshops were conducted across our Operational Area, providing an overview of the LBG’s Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Release Program, involved processes and tailored guidance to maximise the effectiveness of participation in this program. 

• Monday, 19 January 2026    | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm  | Capel Community Centre, 31 Forrest Rd, Capel WA 6271
• Monday,   9 February 2026  | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm  | Dardanup Hall, 19 Ferguson Rd, Dardanup WA 6236 

Program Participation

• 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 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. 

Read more about LBG’s annual summertime Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 Release Program:   LBG Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Release Program – Participant Information Participation by fee is available if virus supply permits relative to demand from  DPR rated landholders within the LBG operational are

Calicivirus “K5″releases are part of an integrated approach to optimise control of feral rabbits.

Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 is a very helpful, effective rabbit bio-control tool, but NOT a “silver bullet”. The virus provides an important tool for suppressing pest rabbit numbers throughout the landscape, reducing the substantial impact pest rabbits have on both agricultural production and the environment. While the “K5” releases won’t eliminate all rabbits, they do provide for a significant reduction in rabbit population, hopefully better enabling landholders the ability to implement other rabbit control strategies around their property. 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. As is well known, rabbits reproduce very effectively; complete elimination of rabbits is close to impossible. Persistence and integration of varied tools and methods to best address property-specific circumstances is key to effective, sustainable rabbit control.

Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 (“K5” Strain of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus) is species-specific: 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. Find out more about this virus from links at bottom of this page.

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.