Further observations on the use of field enclosures for the study of the wild rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.)

Abstract

Populations of wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), can be managed experimentally in 2-acre enclosures, providing the pregnant females are allowed to dig a short burrow in which the young are born. Nestlings should not be handled within a day of birth, since this usually leads to desertion by the parent. A method of finding and examining the nesting chamber is described. Drowning causes large mortalities amongst nestlings, on flat sites, after steady rain. Predators can also oause large mortalities among the young rabbits unless special precautions are taken to keep them out. Biological data collected during the experiment show that nestling rabbits increase in weight from about 36 g when 1 day old at an approximate rate of 7.4 gjday so that they weigh about 185 g when they emerge from the burrow at the age of 21 days. Other data suggest that where dry conditions oause the cessation of reproductive activity all unweaned members of the population die, and the growth rates of recently weaned rabbits are markedly retarded. General problems of technique are discussed.