rabbit predators characteristics prey diet

The rabbit pre-breeding season population is estimated to be 40 million. The main predators of rabbits are the stoat and the fox, although young rabbits also fall to birds of prey and weasels. In the 1950s, the disease myxomatosis was introduced to curb their numbers and the rabbit almost became extinct, however, it is once again a common animal of the British countryside although it can be a serious pest for farmers for eating and damaging crops. All breeds of domestic rabbit originate from the European. There are many other species of rabbit and these, along with pikas and hares, make up the order Lagomorpha. There are seven different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus 13 species), and the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, endangered species on Amami Oshima, Japan). Many escaped into the wild and eventually become so common that farming them was no longer economic.īecause of their fast breeding, a diet of virtually any vegetable matter and persecution of predators, the rabbit slowly established itself in the wild in Britain, despite originally favouring a warmer, drier climate. The rabbit was brought to England in the 12th century AD by the Normans and kept in captivity in warrens as a source of meat and fur. Rabbits (Orytolagus cuniculus) originated from Spain and South-West France.

Rabbit predators characteristics prey diet