Rabbits are a major environmental and agricultural pest.
Impact on agricultural production is greatest in drier areas where pasture production is low and rabbits can increase to high densities and compete with stock. In higher rainfall areas, rabbits can be more easily managed and are seen as a moderately expensive nuisance. The impact of rabbits on native animals and plants is becoming increasingly recognised and includes competition with many native animals for food and shelter and damage to native vegetation through ringbarking, grazing and browsing. The key to the success of the rabbit in Australia is the warren, which provides protection from weather and predators and enables rabbits to inhabit semi-arid and arid country. As rabbits do not dig new warrens readily, the most effective and long-term form of rabbit management is usually through destruction of warren networks with rippers mounted on bulldozers.