The European Rabbit

Damage:
The increasingly high rabbit population, post-myxomatosis, is causing concern and there are very few agricultural crops which do not receive attention from rabbits. Crops which suffer most damage are grass, cereals, brassicas and root crops. In addition rabbits can inflict great damage to orchards by stripping bark. Young trees are particularly at risk in plantations and conservation areas. Damage to grass is not as spectacular as damage to cereals but can be more serious. It has been estimated that the total cost of rabbit damage to agricultural crops in Britain in 1984 was between £95 and £120 million annually - a figure which does not include the costs of the annual control effort - with the potential to rise to between £240 and £400 million annually.

Feeding:
Adult rabbits usually weigh between 1.2 and 2 kg (2.5 - 4 lbs.), with females being about 10% lighter than males. They are very selective feeders avoiding long rank grasses, preferring short agricultural grasses and clovers. It is estimated that 5 rabbits eat as much food as one ewe!