The Otago Regional Council has dished out $100,000 to community groups across the region to help manage rabbit populations.
Rabbits at the Otakou Māori Cemetery In Dunedin. File photo Photo: ODT/ Stephen Jaquiery
It has a sustained control programme in place for the pests and for the first time has given funding towards rabbit control under its Eco Fund.
The Hidden Hills Residents Association has been granted $48,883 for fencing around Wānaka and the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group has been given $14,067 to consult the community for a rabbit management plan.
Wentworth estate Residents Group has been given $4050 for rabbit fencing and Friends of Tucker Beach Wildlife Management Reserve have got $33,000 to develop a rabbit management plan for around Queenstown.
Otago Regional Council acting manager environmental implementation Libby Caldwell says community led rabbit management initiatives helps landowners develop long term control efforts on their land.
"Rabbits were introduced to New Zealand in the 1800s mainly for meat and for hunting, but without any major predators they quickly became a pest and so rabbits are a serious threat to our biodiversity in the environment.
"They destroy gardens and eat tree seedlings and veggies, they compete with livestock for pasture and ten rabbits can eat as much grass as one sheep
And they obviously breed like rabbits - so the numbers can quickly increase to infestation levels if they're not effectively managed, she said.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has estimated that rabbits cost New Zealand over $50 million in lost production and a further $25 million in direct pest control each year.
"Rabbits are the number one priority pest for us in Otago and within the regional pest management plan occupiers of land within Otago are required to ensure that the rabbit densities on their properties remain low and this incentive fund allows community groups or groups of neighbours working together to get help to do that."
The Otago Regional Councils Eco Fund also granted $30,000 towards native planting for water quality and $23,000 for native planting following wilding pine removal.
