Farmers in Western Australia report an unprecedented surge in rabbit numbers that is destroying crops and threatening native species. Jack Gough of the Invasive Species Council warned the outbreak is "a national problem" and called for new biological controls and coordinated action. The federal government has pledged $1.2 million for rabbit control projects to improve tools, build capacity and support management efforts.
Rising Rabbit Plague in Western Australia — Farmers Sound National Alarm
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Farmers across Western Australia are reporting an unprecedented surge in rabbit numbers that is damaging crops, degrading land and threatening native wildlife.
What officials are saying
Jack Gough, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council, has warned the federal government that the outbreak is spreading quickly and called it "a national problem." Gough says he is hearing reports from WA and other states of rabbit densities unseen in recent decades, with some growers reporting entire grain paddocks being stripped.
Environmental and Economic Risks
Rabbits are an invasive species that compete with native animals for food and habitat, can spread disease and accelerate soil erosion. Gough warned that at least 300 already endangered native species are now at heightened risk from increased rabbit pressure.
For farmers, the impacts are immediate: destroyed crops mean lower yields and reduced incomes, which can limit next season's planting and undermine local food supply chains. If uncontrolled, persistent rabbit damage could contribute to localized food insecurity and higher costs for consumers.
Control Efforts and Funding
Historically, rabbit numbers were managed in Australia with calicivirus releases, but that method appears to be losing effectiveness in this outbreak. In response to rising concern, federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed the government is allocating $1.2 million under the Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program to fund rabbit control projects, improve tools, build local capacity and support coordinated management.
Gough and land managers are urging further investment in research and the development of new biological controls alongside integrated on-ground management to reduce rabbit numbers and protect both agricultural production and biodiversity.
"WA is not the only place where I'm hearing farmers, land managers screaming about the numbers of rabbits that they're seeing," said Jack Gough.
What comes next
Experts say the situation requires coordinated national attention: combining research into new control methods, increased funding for local management, monitoring of native species at risk, and stronger support for farmers to protect crops and livelihoods.
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