Rabbits

  • The rabbit was introduced into England in the 12th Century by the Normans
  • They were originally held in captivity as a food supply
  • Many escaped and adapted to living in the wild
  • There are several different classifications of rabbit such as the European rabbit, the Cottontail rabbit and the Amami rabbit among many
  • The disease myxomatosis was introduced in the 1950s to curb the population
  • The rabbit is a prolific breeder with the young reaching sexual maturity within months of being born
  • Rabbits are ground dwellers
  • They are herbivores, feeding on grass, crops and leafy weeds
  • They will gnaw tree bark in winter
  • Rabbits re-swallow 80% of their droppings, known as refection

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  • They graze heavily for half an hour in late afternoon, followed by selective feeding
  • If the environment is non-threatening, they will graze for hours
  • Their warrens can be 1 to 2 metres long
  • Some rabbit species are social, living in groups of 20 rabbits
  • Others live alone, coming together to breed
  • They are most active at night
  • Rabbits communicate with one another by leaving a scent
  • Rabbits produce up to 7 young per litter
  • They have 4 to 5 litters a year
  • Rabbit gestation period is around 28 days
  • The mother rabbit can be impregnated again 4 days after birth

DIAGNOSIS

Nuisance scale: 5/10 MODERATE

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Causes damage that can take time and money to repair

Hazard: 8/10 HIGH

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Especially when the population is rampant; they can damage trees, decimate crops and create unstable ground, littered with burrows and holes