Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus

The rabbit is not native to the UK but was introduced over a thousand years ago by the Normans for food. The rabbit eventually became a pest and is now the most commonly seen wild mammal. The rabbit was persecuted, which reached its peak with the introduction of myxomatosis in the 1950s. Myxomatosis a virus, severely curtailed the population, fortunately for the species, some became immune, however there are still random outbreaks of the disease.

The rabbit can rapidly increase it number, due to its prolific breeding pattern, easily producing a dozen annually. Breeding can occur throughout the year but primarily happens between January and June. Rabbits are not monogamous the males (bucks) mating with several females (does).

The males have nothing to do with the upbringing of the young. Rabbits are born blind, furless and deaf, for their safety they are kept underground. After four weeks they emerge as miniature copies of the adults, themselves being able to breed after sixteen weeks. Fortunately for the countryside, rabbit numbers are kept down by a multitude of predators.

Being social animals they live in colonial warrens. Each warren is comprised of many tunnels providing a means of escape if a predator attacks.

Rabbits do not digest food the first time it goes through their body. Food has to excreted and then re-eaten before finally passed as the typical round pellets, seen in any area where rabbits are found.

Rabbits have two types of teeth incisors and molars. The incisors are sharp for cutting while the molars are for grinding.

The best times to see rabbits are at dusk and dawn. If approached slowly they are easily seen, as in the areas that they feed, the grass is heavily grazed, so providing them little cover.