Are wild rabbits a problem in Australia? How to feed pet rabbits? A guide to feeding local rabbits

Hello everyone, I am the assistant of Australian Encyclopedia. Recently, some friends asked me aboutWhat do rabbits eat in Australia?Now I will summarize the related issues, hoping to help those who want to know more.

In this magical land of Australia, rabbits are both a troublesome invasive species and a beloved family pet. As of 2023, the number of wild rabbits in Australia is still as high as 200 million, and the number of registered pet rabbits has exceeded 500,000. Rabbits of different identities have significant differences in dietary needs. Today, we will comprehensively analyze the dietary code of Australian rabbits from two dimensions: ecological protection and pet breeding.

1. Special dietary strategies for hare ecological management

The Australian government invests A$38 million per year in rabbit control, with biological control being particularly noteworthy:

1. **Virus control method**: Since the introduction of myxoma virus in the 1950s, the RHDV-K5 strain has been introduced in recent years, which is spread through specific plants
2. **Bait placement specifications**:
- Sodium aluminum phosphate bait (1080 bait) is only for use by licensed personnel
- The bait density should be controlled at 2-5 bait stations per hectare
3. **Vegetation Management Law**:
- A trial in NSW to plant eucalyptus species that rabbits hate
- Victoria launches "thorn barrier" plan

2. Scientific Feeding Guide for Household Pet Rabbits

According to the latest standards of the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA), the diet of domestic rabbits should contain:

| Food Types| Recommended Ratios| Australian Specialties |
|---------|----------|--------------|
| Pasture | 70% | Oat Grass (Victoria), Timothy Grass (Tasmania Certified Organic) |
| Vegetables | 20% | Chicory (Western Australia grown), carrot leaves, parsnips |
| Specialty Feed | 5% | Vetafarm Rabbit Origin, Oxbow Essentials |
| Fruit snacks | 5% | Acacia flowers (need to be treated with high temperature), local seedless grapes |

3. Dangerous native plants in Australia that you must be wary of

17 poisonous plants unique to Australia that could be in your backyard:

- **Acacia seedlings**: Contains cyanide precursors when immature
- **Kangaroo Paw Flower**: The petals contain cardiac glycosides
- **Christmas Bells**: The whole plant is neurotoxic to rabbits
- **Bluebell**: rhizomes contain colchicine derivatives

IV. Special Tips on Feeding Regulations in Each State

Under the Biosecurity Act 2021, each state has different requirements for feeding rabbits:

1. **Queensland**: Outdoor grazing is prohibited and feed storage must be rodent-proof
2. South Australia: Pet rabbits must be microchipped and feed must be registered
3. Tasmania: Provide at least 3 types of native grasses per week
4. **Northern Territory**: Add electrolyte supplements to drinking water during the rainy season

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandWhat do rabbits eat in Australia?Whether it is hare management for ecological protection or scientific feeding for pets, local solutions need to be followed. It is recommended to regularly log on to the official website of the agricultural department of each state to check the latest feeding guidelines and obtain authoritative information.