Rabbits
Rabbits are grey/brown in colour and sometimes black and have slightly lighter undersides and distinctive white flash on the tail. They are normally found in & around farmland, lakes,river banks,golf courses, gardens, railway embankments, allotments,playing fields.
Adult rabbits are about 40cm-55cm long (head and body) and weight approx 700 – 2000 (average 1700g), breeding mainly takes place between January and July but can occur any month, with young females capable of breeding at 3 – 4 months of age. Gestation is 28 – 30 days with an average litter size of 5. Females are capable of breeding 4 – 5 times a year in ideal conditions. Mating and conception within 24 hours of parturition usually occurs with ovulation being induced by mating.
Rabbits feed by grazing, taking any young shoots close to cover and nibbling them down squarely to 10mm or so above the ground. In cereal crops extensive grazing can occur and crop loss can run into many £1,000’s. Grazing on vegetables or flowers in domestic gardens can also be infuriating. Rabbit damage is not limited to feeding, but their burrowing in areas such as golf courses, graveyards, railway embankments and farmland can cause much disruption.Where possible Environ always endeavour to implement proofing as a permanent solution to rabbit destruction.
Rabbits were first introduced to Britain by the Normans as a valuable food source, but escapes soon occurred and they quickly colonised the surrounding countryside.The colour of rabbits can vary slightly from light brown to grey through to black, but generally they are brown with long dark hairs giving a well camouflaged appearance. An adult will weigh in the region of 1.7kg but larger specimens often occur. The bucks (males) have a broader head and heavier body than does (females) and often show signs of fighting for dominance of a warren, with ragged and torn ears being common.
Apart from the visual damage caused by grazing, a number of small scrapes may be noticed, where attempts to obtain roots have taken place. These signs and large amounts of hard round droppings can easily be seen. Often, on well established routes to feeding areas runs are easily visible and they can be followed from the warren to the chosen feeding ground. Damage to trees or shrubs can also be seen in the winter months when food is short and this can be extensive to smooth barked species. Trees can be killed by this stripping of the bark unless a guard or fence is erected .Rabbits are considered a serious pest control problem particularly to farmland and a free site survey is always carried out to insure that we can implement the most appropriate form of pest control.
