Rabbits appear to be on the rise in Fiordland after good spring breeding conditions.

Te Anau farmer Max Slee said it was quite scary how many half grown rabbits there were around at the moment.

"I think they have had a very good breeding season," Slee said.

"I'd say we've got too many now. The amount I'm seeing, you'd think there is going to be an explosion. There is a lot out there to breed"

"I don't think we have had that explosion [yet] but we are bordering on it."

Slee said the rabbits were certainly enjoying Te Anau's drier ground conditions.

Up to 100 rabbits live in two large warrens near the Te Anau Rodeo arena. Photo: Southland App

Farmer and agricultural contractor Kevin Woolhouse said it had been a good year for everything and that there were young rabbits everywhere.

"People that have good developed farmland, the habitat is not good enough for them [rabbits] to build up too much. But in other areas where they have got undeveloped ground they can breed up and become quite a problem," Woolhouse said.

Woolhouse said places like reserves could be full of rabbit holes and warrens.

The only real issue with rabbits was that they eat food that other animals should eat, and there were plenty of other predators around that do more damage like possoms and feral cats, he said.

Environment Southland's website says rabbits can breed rapidly, competing with stock for food, damaging young trees and crops, and increasing the potential for erosion. Females can be pregnant for 70% of a year and can produce up to 20-50 young.

Under Southland's regional pest management plan (SRPMP), administered by Environment Southland, landowners and/or occupiers have the primary responsibility for managing the impacts of rabbits (and other pests) on their land.

Rabbits should be kept at or below Level 3 on the Modified McLean Scale: Pellet heaps spaced 10m or more apart on average. Odd rabbits seen; sign and some pellet heaps showing up.