Bunny break-ins cause misery for Aussie homeowner whose garden and prized fruit trees are being destroyed – and there’s NOTHING he can do about it
- Rabbits have invaded a pensioners property causing thousands in damages
- Colin Fitches said the floppy-eared troublemakers are ruining his fruit trees
- The Local Council and Department of Agriculture say nothing can be done
A retired property owner is hopping mad after a ‘rabbit plague’ inundated his yard and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Colin Fitches, who resides in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, has been battling the out-of-control bunnies for about six months but the local council and the Department of Agriculture say there’s nothing they can do about it.
On top of ruining his water tank, the floppy-eared troublemakers have also destroyed his pristine garden and prized fruit trees.
‘A bloody plague of rabbits has taken over my property!’ the pensioner said.
‘When the trees drop fruit, it’s like a party for them,’ Mr Fitches told A Current Affair.
The rabbits make their way into the property by burrowing tunnels under his fence.
They then gorge on the bounty of fruit from his orange trees, grapefruit trees, peach trees and more.
The not-so-cute critters also did so much damage to his water tank he had to shell out $3,000 to replace it.
‘They dug underneath the timber that was underneath there and the timber just gave out because it was all rotted out,’ he said.
Mr Fitches has tried to contact his Council, local MP and the Department of Agriculture, but under the law there is nothing they can do.
The legislation dictates that landowners are legally required to control pests on their land.
Colin Fitches, who resides in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, has been battling the out-of-control bunnies for about six months but the local council and the Department of Agriculture say there’s nothing they can do about it
On top of ruining his water tank, the floppy-eared troublemakers have also destroyed his pristine garden and prized fruit trees
The Department of Agriculture recommended he put up a rabbit proof fence on all sides of his property to keep the intruders at bay.
But despite the $20,000 investment they are still forcing their way inside.
Rabbits have been a menace to the nation’s flora and fauna since the invasive species was introduced to Australia aboard the first fleet of British ships which settled Down Under in 1788,
Australia’s Department of Primary Industries estimate that rabbits cost the country’s agriculture sector over $200 million per year and also threaten about 300 native species.
Various government-level pest controlled campaigns have been launched over the years to deal with the problem – including the release of several deadly caliciviruses, but the creatures continue to thrive.
One female rabbit can produce a staggering 180 offspring a year.