Daytime Locations of European Rabbits at Three Localities in South -Western Australia

Abstract

Radio-telemetry was used to determine the use by rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, of different types of daytime locations at three localities in south-western Australia. The frequency of use of different types of daytime locations was clearly associated with the structure of the native vegetation. Where the understorey was dense, use of resting locations in the scrub was high. Where the understorey was sparse, rabbits sheltered principally in warrens in cleared areas. When rabbits shelter predominantly in large patches of native scrub, warren ripping and fumigation may be of very limited value as control techniques.