Field enclosure experiments on the technique of poisoning the rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.). II. A study of territorial behaviour and the use of bait stations.

Abstract

The group territories of rabbits living in three enclosures at Albury during August-September 1958 were studied in relation to the rabbits' reaction to a pile of oats placed at the intersection of short crossed trails of oats within each enclosure. These observations have revealed the need for consideration of the rabbits' territorial behaviour when planning a poisoning campaign. When rabbits have welldefined and strongly defended territories they will not, as a rule, cross territorial boundaries to feed at a pile of oat grains in a neighbouring territory. There was no evidence that the pile of oats had a "luring" effect sufficient to overcome the restrictions to movements of rabbits imposed by territorial boundaries. With lack of breeding, territorial defence becomes negligible and movement of rabbits over relatively greater distances is mutually tolerated, thus increasing their opportunity offinding and returning to feed at a pile of oats. Because bait stations of the type simulated in the trial provide at best a restricted local access to the bait, it is unlikely they would be of much value as a practical method of rabbit control.