Municipality
Huon Valley
Funding Status
Awaiting Support
Achievement Plans
Reduction in rabbit population through a shooting regime. Culling the rabbit population will protect seabird habitat by “improving substrate stability and vegetation cover and by restoring favourable microclimates for seabird burrows†and will restore residual and re-generating native vegetation cover as enhanced seabird breeding areas. The Indigenous Heritage report identified potential degradation of culturally sensitive sites on the island by rabbits.
Methods
In a flexible program, we will engage a suitably qualified, licenced, experienced hunter for around four to six times in the grant period, to conduct focussed culls. Subject to legal availability, the hunter would have sound suppression and night vision equipment, as well as all the licences, firearms and ammunition needed. Appropriately experienced, licenced “Friend†volunteers willing to participate and undergo on-site training will assist the professional hunter to ensure safety and project sustainability into the future.
Natural Values
Rabbits compete for breeding habitat with 400 pairs of short tailed shearwaters and 500 penguin pairs around the island. Rabbits colonise nests and deplete native vegetation cover, contributing to foreshore erosion. To protect indigenous cultural sites, restore habitat and protect threatened flora and fauna; including forty spotted pardalote and swift parrot habitat. 180 years of European habitation has devastated Huon Island’s vegetation; subjecting it to intensive agricultural activities, with an influx of invasive animals and plants. Little of the original vegetation cover remains.
Amount
$1k - $5k
