Media release | 20 February 2025

Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group (PHBG) is hosting a special screening of the ABC’s Eat the Invaders on March 6. Join us and an expert panel in Pinjarra as we watch the rabbit episode and debate innovative, sustainable, and sometimes controversial solutions to managing invasive species.

Rabbits, introduced to Australia in the 18th century, have become one of the nation’s most destructive pests. They decimate native vegetation, contribute to soil erosion, and outcompete local wildlife for resources. While rural Australia has long battled these pests, peri-urban areas—where urban sprawl meets the countryside—are becoming the new frontline. Limited control measures in these zones allow rabbits to flourish, creating challenges for conservationists, farmers, and homeowners alike.

“Rabbits are slowly spreading across our peri-urban and urban areas,” says Teele Hooper-Worrell, Executive Officer of PHBG. “A small number of rabbits can become ecosystem architects, determining what native plants we see. On top of that, they create warrens under houses and sheds, make a meal of gardens and parks, and outcompete our native animals.

“It’s time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to rabbit control to prevent escalation and a return to past population levels.”

The screening of Eat the Invaders on March 6 aims to challenge perceptions and encourage out-of-the-box thinking. Questions we’ll ask include: could culinary solutions play a role in controlling rabbit populations? How do we develop more tools for urban areas to utilise for effective control? How can we balance ethics, ecology, and practicality when managing invasive species?

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and contribute to the discussion. RSVP at www.PHBG.org or call 0474 242 223.

Landholders can be kept up to date with the activities of the PHBG by following the group on facebook, visiting the website www.PHBG.org, and subscribing to receive the quarterly seasonal newsletter, which provides information on seasonal control activities, upcoming events and emerging biosecurity threats.